Featured Queer Artists

This month we are showcasing the work of Bob Pazden. Bob will join us for a special reception during this month’s First Friday Art Walk on February 6th and his work will be displayed at the BQC Center through the end of February.

Bob Pazden is a photographic artist who captures intimate portraits of people, creatures, nature, places and things. As a child, he was often bullied and called out as gay, which stifled his creative expression, only later to discover his photographic vision as a realistic means of self expression. In the words of Life Magazine: “To see Life; To see the World” The pleasure of sharing stories and photos is beyond words, as told by his photos. Come see a few of his images that evoke feelings of joy during these stressful times.

“When I was a child, my dream was to be an artist. While growing up, I was bullied and called names and I had trouble understanding that other people saw me as gay, long before I knew what that meant. I related it to my creative side because my creativity drew attention from others, and the timing seemed relevant. I loved drawing, and making crafts and was often recognized for my creations, however, I didn’t want to stand out because of the bullying, so I stuffed it away and became afraid to express myself creatively. For many years, I stopped making any form of art, and was terrified to express myself publicly.

Upon graduating from high school, my parents gave me a camera and I loved taking photos, but couldn’t afford the film and developing, so my hobby festered for many years. In 1999, I left my corporate job in Silicon Valley and my parents gave me a digital camera to take on an extended trip overseas. My husband and I leased a VW camper and drove around Europe for 3 months - we visited 27 countries there, over three months, and took very many photos. It was during this trip that I rediscovered my love of taking photos. I was beginning to notice that I had stories to tell that others enjoyed and I was manifesting a certain style that appealed to me, and others, but I was still afraid to show my work publicly.

After an adventurous trip to New Zealand with my camera in tow, I was frustrated by the speed of the pocket camera and invested in a digital SLR - my photographic life awakened. I joined nature photography clubs, began showing my photos, and eventually took a summer off from work to go to the Rocky Mountain School of Photography, in Missoula, MT. It was there that I discovered more about my abilities, as well as my photographic style, and began to overcome my fears of creative self expression. The summer was spent taking thousands and thousands of photos, experimenting and exploring, in nature, with people, in the studio, etc. For me, it was a discovery that I loved taking photos to share with others, but I didn’t particularly want to undertake it professionally. My photos are personal, and more about life itself, and how I see the world mindfully, when I connect intimately with my subject. I don’t always think about what I’m photographing, the outcomes are revealed organically…I don’t know how else to put it.

My highly adventurous needs, travels to 38 countries and 47 states, coupled with my love of photojournalism have resulted in many tens of thousands of images…some awesome, and very many not worth a second look, but the pleasure of sharing my life with others is beyond words, as told by my photos. In the words of the renowned Life Magazine, my photos seem to also represent their mission in their most notable motto: “To see Life; To see the World”. I photograph life, up close and personal - people, creatures, nature, places and things, to share with anyone who wants to see. I am no longer afraid to be gay and creative and artistic. Art has been my journey of self-discovery and expression."