Art in the Raw: Queer Artists, Nude Art and Creative Expression

About Art in the Raw: Queer Artists, Nude Art and Creative Expression

Art in the Raw is a podcast exploring the bold and unfiltered world of queer art. Hosted by David Smith of Salon Naturale, each episode features intimate conversations with LGBTQ+ artists who push boundaries in nude art, photography, painting, and multimedia. Discover the inspirations, struggles, and creative processes behind their work - raw, vulnerable, and unapologetically queer. New episodes every other Sunday.

Publisher

David Smith, Salon Naturale

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

26 Feb 2025

Latest episode

3 May 2026

Latest episodes

24 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   3 May 2026

   EP22: The Nipple, the Algorithm, and Artistic Expression: Don't Delete Art's Fight for Digital Freedom

   Summary What happens when your art disappears without warning? This episode explores the hidden crisis of artistic censorship on social media platforms, where algorithms and content moderation policies are silencing queer artists, nude photographers, and anyone whose work challenges corporate comfort zones. Elizabeth Larison (Director of NCAC's Arts and Culture Advocacy Program) and Emma Shapiro (DDA Editor-at-Large and founder of the Exposure Therapy project) discuss how Don't Delete Art emerged in March 2020 to fight back—and what changed when they delivered 2,000 signatures to Meta's doorstep. We dig into shadow bans, the politics of the female nipple, and why transparency in algorithms matters for everyone's creative freedom. Keywords artistic censorship, social media moderation, platform accountability, queer art, nude photography, shadow banning, Don't Delete Art, Meta/Instagram censorship, Free the Nipple, digital rights, content moderation algorithms, artistic freedom, body autonomy, NCAC, Santa Clara Principles 8 Key Takeaways Shadow bans are invisible censorship: Your work can be restricted and algorithmically suppressed without you knowing why—Meta didn't even acknowledge this practice until recently, forcing artists to guess why their reach suddenly vanished. The female-presenting body faces algorithmic discrimination: Studies show AI flags topless women as more sexually suggestive than topless men, even in identical poses—a bias that determines what art the world can see online. Artists are losing access to platforms faster than institutions are adapting: Museums and galleries haven't caught up to the scale of online censorship; many don't understand it's happening to the artists they support. Don't Delete Art's gallery is both memorial and weapon: By displaying censored work online, DDA creates proof of what's being lost and makes the invisible visible—turning suppression into documentation. Corporations deliberately keep content guidelines vague: Platforms intentionally avoid precise definitions to prevent users from gaming the system, but this creates a cat-and-mouse game where artists never know the real rules. The "artistic context" double standard: Meta acknowledges nudity in painting and sculpture but not photography—meaning the medium matters more than the message, and some artists get granted context while others don't. Transparency and user control are the antidotes: Blue Sky's model (where users opt-in to see certain content) offers a path forward—one that respects both artistic freedom and viewer choice. One coalition did what single organizations couldn't: By uniting artists, human rights groups, collectors, and institutions, Don't Delete Art created the pressure needed to push Meta toward notifications, appeals processes, and account transparency. The Free the Nipple collaboration marks a shift from defense to offense: DDA's new two-month takeover isn't just fighting censorship—it's celebrating the exact imagery platforms suppress, turning the nipple into a symbol of resistance. Art censorship online mirrors and amplifies real-world power structures: Who decides what counts as art? Who gets believed when they say their work has value? These questions shape not just what we see, but how we think about bodies, identity, and freedom. Chapter Breakdown 0:03–1:30 | Welcome & Don't Delete Art's Origin Story — David introduces Elizabeth Larison and Emma Shapiro; brief overview of DDA as a coalition convened by NCAC in March 2020. 1:21–3:30 | Why March 2020? The Pandemic Pivot to Digital — Elizabeth explains how COVID forced galleries online and exposed the reality of platform censorship; NCAC's earlier work defending artists like Amy Greenfield. 3:31–5:10 | Emma's Entry: From Censored Artist to Activist — Emma shares her journey: facing Instagram deletions, founding Exposure Therapy, connecting with Spencer Tunick, and joining DDA in early 2021. 5:11–7:20 | What It Feels Like to Be Delete

2. 

   5 Apr 2026

   EP21: Unmuting the Queer Artist Within: Oz's Path to Daily Abstract Expression

   Summary Oz shares his raw journey from a creative kid in East Texas, stifled by self-doubt and societal noise, to a daily painting practice that finally unleashes his abstract surrealist voice. Through stories of suppression, late-life urgency, and the joy of protest art, he reveals how painting centers his chaos and fuels his queer soul. David and Oz riff on intuition over anxiety, the thrill of first shows, and dreaming big in Dallas' art scene. Keywords queer artist abstract painting late bloomer artist gay creativity protest art messy middle Dallas art scene self-taught painter queer expression abstract surrealism Key Takeaways Oz drew comic books and painted plaster statues as a kid, encouraged by his grandmother who saw his "weird" spark early on. Teen bullying and self-consciousness muted his creativity for decades, pushing him toward "masculine" paths like military and ag education. Retirement and moving to Dallas ignited his return to art, sparked by friends like David, Salon Natural, and Daniel Padilla. Daily painting calms his chaotic brain, turning agitation into patterns—it's a joyful conduit, not work. The "messy middle" hits when he overthinks structure; letting go always births something beautiful, like David's featured piece. Protest paintings sell fast, channeling world rage into hopeful expression that resonates deeply with buyers. First art show brought tears of humility; now it's relaxed joy—proving he fits without apology. Advice to young queer artists: Trust the quiet inner voice over external noise; intuition speaks in sentences, anxiety in questions. Lightning round gems: Fuels from raw emotion/rage/joy; dog's bark inspires, whining kills focus; dreams of solo Oz show in Dallas. Grandma's legacy: She knew he was gay, grabbed his husband David's hand, said "take care of my boy." Chapters 05:25 - Childhood Sparks: Comics, Plaster Statues, and Grandma's Encouragement 08:44 - Suppressing the Queer Creative Self in Small-Town Texas 14:42 - Retirement Urgency: Dabbling Turns to Daily Painting Firehose 18:10 - The Painting Process: Chaos Clears, Patterns Emerge from Somewhere Else 21:25 - How Daily Art Changed Everything—Protest Pieces and Inner Calm 28:15 - Freeing Lesson: Stop Caring What People Think 32:16 - Spotlight: The Structured-to-Chaotic Piece on David's Wall 35:14 - Navigating the Messy Middle: Let Go to Find Beauty 40:39 - Dreams Ahead: Solo Show, Protest Series, Penetrating Dallas Art Scene 46:08 - Whisper to Young Queer Artists + Lightning Round About the Guest Oz (Galen) is a self-taught abstract surrealist painter from Dallas, channeling emotion into chaotic patterns and protest pieces. Late bloomer after decades in corporate sales for creative firms, he now paints daily in his backyard studio. Bluesky - @studiooz2025.bsky.social Website Resources Read on Substack Follow on Instagram Listen on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Stay Connected with Salon Naturale!
Ready to dive deeper into the world of queer art, creativity, and community? Visit our website at salonnaturale.art to subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on: New Podcast Episodes: Insights, interviews, and discussions that inspire. Drink & Draw Events: Join us monthly for fun nights of creativity and connection at The Dallas Eagle Nude Art Socials: Explore the beauty of the human form through art.
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Follow us on: Bluesky @salonnaturale.artInstagram @salonnaturaleYouTube @salonnaturale Hosted on Podbean

3. 

   15 Feb 2026

   EP20: Colorful Queer Icons: The Art and Journey of Steven Thomas

   Host David Smith interviews artist Steven Thomas about his journey from advertising to fine art, his creative process of blending digital design with acrylic and ink, and his celebration of queer icons through vibrant, rainbow-colored art.

Who has been a guest on Art in the Raw: Queer Artists, Nude Art and Creative Expression

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Steven Thomas
• Joe Boatfield
• Ignacio Darnaunde
• Charlie Cole
• Jerome Larez

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

13,860

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 53 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

64

Social presence

0

YouTube

72

Engagement

32

Contact Art in the Raw: Queer Artists, Nude Art and Creative Expression

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.