Masculinity Is A Mask by Alex Spear

Artist’s statement and photos by Alex Spear

Photo courtesy of Alex Spear

New Photography Book

Masculinity Is A Mask – Volume One
a photography book by Alex Spear
Independently published (March 13, 2025)
Language: English
Paperback: 150 pages
Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.36 x 11 inches
ISBN-13: 979-8313984469

This is a gorgeous book of photographs showing an androgynous US model in staged situations that make her embody a James Bond-style alter ego. There are quotations of her thoughts on life in an interview that arose organically during the photoshoots.

Artist Statement by Alex Spear – #MasculinityIsAMask

Alex Spear: #MasculinityIsAMask began when I was at The Margate School finishing my Masters in Fine Art. I wanted to capture in visual form the excitement I feel when in the presence of a masculine woman.

This passion project took me all over the world, to America and Australia as well as Milan and London. The most incredible masculine presenting AFAB people, whether they identified as women or not, whether they were lesbians or not, volunteered their time to become the subjects of a photography series.

In terms of methodology, I owe a debt to Cindy Sherman who creates fictitious scenarios using props, but where she uses herself as the model, I prefer to remain behind the camera.

I conclude that as a (forgive the term) ‘consumer of women’ myself, it is more natural for me to work in this way, though I hope I never stray into the territory of objectifying or fetishizing the masculine beauty I seek. My subjects were far from being passive when posing, of course! Their character and creativity informed the shoots with their own clothes, hangouts and ideas for storytelling an integral part of the finished work.

Also very influential to me is the work of Catherine Opie whose portraits bring queer people from the margins of society to the centre.

I have returned often to the original photos and short films I made at art school, where a cis male artist with a cat-like athleticism bravely put on an actual mask that made it impossible for him to see (and difficult for him to talk or even breathe). Those initial steps into the project have brought me full circle, as I separate the aspects of masculinity that are empowering, and those of traditional patriarchal roles that AFAB people may choose to eschew.

So far the first volume is available as a photobook featuring Laura in the guise of her non-binary alter ego Trystan, with funding sought to allow me to create the rest of the books.

Trystan. Photo courtesy of Alex Spear.

Esme. Photo courtesy of Alex Spear.

About Alex Spear:

I am a multi-disciplinary fine artist and the author of novels, born in London but travelling regularly to the US and occasionally working out of a studio in Sydney Australia. My life as a nomadic creative has involved making drawings, films and photography wherever I go. I have organised solo exhibitions as well as supported other artists to show their work. Themes in my work include masculinity and grief. I have reclaimed the female nude, communicating lesbian desire and my passion for women who live their lives outside the confines of social norms. Living in a female body and also being what might be crudely termed a ‘consumer of women’ myself, I use the queer gaze to create sensitive portraits in which my photography and drawings from life are layered, allowing the female nudes to play together in a gently erotic manner. Aubrey Beardsley, Catherine Opie, Cindy Sherman, Egon Schiele and John T. Scott have profoundly influenced my methodology.

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Learn more about Alex Spear’s photography project – #MasculinityIsAMask