Musée Magazine: keep a place for me

The queer experience is deeply ingrained in the American cultural zeitgeist. While their voices have been hindered over the course of decades, their stories- rich in emotion - are incredibly important in understanding the country’s complex history. Common stories of LGBTQ+ heroes like Marsha P. Johnson and Harvey Milk have been placed at the forefront of the American psyche, educating us on the power of these incredible individuals and enriching us in the stories of lives we only fathom of living. But what of the voices who go unheard? How does one get to this point? Where do you start?

Image:

Ryan Patrick Krueger, An Object of Connection #2, 2023.

Clifford Prince King and Ryan Patrick Krueger highlight the crucial coming-of-age queer experience in their stunning exhibition keep a place for me. Staged elegantly at Buffalo’s Rivalry Projects gallery, the innocence of life and the richness of living are put on full display for all to see, but more importantly to feel. Through King and Krueger’s photography, we are presented with a simultaneously nostalgic and present look into the lives of these beautiful individuals, and through their lens their stories are told. Their cameras allow these young men to speak to us like never before, offering one of the more emotional photography exhibitions in the country’s artistic landscape. The series opened on November 3rd and has a scheduled closing date of December 20th. 

King and Krueger do a tremendous job of highlighting the pure innocence of their subjects, drawing out the youth in them and showing soft sides throughout their work. We are not looking at photographs here, but rather being invited to a viewing room of life, seeing these young men navigate their worlds in real time. Their eyes look deep within our souls, telling us of their trials and tribulations and inviting us to ask questions.

Image: Clifford Prince King, ooey gooey, 2023.

Some of the more profound images in the series, aside from the subjects themselves, are the yearbook photos, where voices can be seen and we can literally read into the lives presented in the series. Yearbook, 1964, depicting the signature page of a yearbook, has voices shown all across the photograph, adding real-world sentiment not just to this image, but all of them. Imaginary figures become real; they add names to the faces. It almost looks as if we are glancing at stills from a movie, with a plot and character arcs and pure human emotion. 

Image: Clifford Prince King, day one, 2017.

The color palette of King and Krueger’s photographs are pleasing to the eye, yes, but also add a deep feeling of calming to the entire series. No one color jumps out at you and intimidates you, pushing you away from the possibility of deep internal reflection. Instead, the warm tones of nature and subjects invite you in, and the oranges and greens serve us soothing feelings of nostalgia and yearning in each image. It becomes less about the queer coming-of-age experience, but rather a commentary on youth, bringing out the child in all of us and connecting ourselves with our ripest emotions. You leave Rivalry Projects wanting a hug or a pat on the shoulder, but more importantly, you leave with a new view on life. 

Image:

Ryan Patrick Krueger, Yearbook, 1964, 2023

Written by Max Wiener

Photo Edited by Lyz Rider