Analog Human Studies: 25 Years of Photography by Slava Mogutin

Exhibit at Bob Mizer Museum in San Francisco celebrates queer visibility through Mogutin's analog photography

Mar. 20, 2026 at 11:59am by Ben Kaplan

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This April, the Bob Mizer Museum and Photographic Archives in San Francisco will present an exhibition titled "Analog Human Studies: 25 Years of Photography by Slava Mogutin". Mogutin, a Russian-born photographer forced into exile in the 1990s due to persecution for his writing and queer activism, has built a singular body of work over the past 25 years centered on documenting the queer community through captivating and emotionally provocative analog photographs.

Why it matters

Mogutin's work shines as a rare beacon in a world too often intent on sanitizing the male nude, posing an uncompromising challenge to societal norms and forming a multifaceted practice that is not only visually compelling but also steadfast in its sense of resistance and celebration of queer visibility.

The details

Working primarily with analog film, Mogutin is known for his ability to remain intimately close to his subjects without ever feeling invasive. Sexuality appears as an essential element of daily life in his photographs, while romance lingers in the palpable compassion shared between subject and photographer. In recent years, Mogutin's practice has turned toward a more reflective realm, engaging mid-20th-century queer visual culture and black-and-white photography.

  • The exhibition will be on view from April 2 to June 13, 2026.
  • An opening reception will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2026 from 6-8:30 PM.
  • An artist talk with Mogutin is scheduled for Friday, April 10 from 7-8:30 PM.
  • A screening of "Gay Propaganda 3.0" will take place on Friday, May 15 from 7-8:30 PM.

The players

Slava Mogutin

A Russian-born photographer who was forced into exile in the 1990s due to persecution for his writing and queer activism. He has built a singular body of work over the past 25 years centered on documenting the queer community through captivating and emotionally provocative analog photographs.

Bob Mizer Museum and Photographic Archives

The museum in San Francisco that is hosting the exhibition "Analog Human Studies: 25 Years of Photography by Slava Mogutin".

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The takeaway

Mogutin's work stands as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of the queer community, using analog photography as an ethical act of witness and a means of challenging societal norms and celebrating visibility in a world too often intent on suppressing such expressions.