GILLES LARRAIN

Born in 1938 in Dalat, Indochina to a French-Vietnamese mother and diplomat Chilean father who were, by fate, both painters and creatives, Gilles Larrain was bound for a creative future. Larraine went on to study architecture and painting at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris and New York University before discovering his love for photography in 1969. From then, he went on to photograph creative characters like Robert Mappelthorpe, Nina Hagan, Harvey Fierstein, and Warhol’s entourage.

In 1973, Larrain published his first book, Idols, which at the time of its release met with both acclaim and controversy. While gender fluidity and self expression is a familiar and widely accepted concept today, the landscape of the late 20th century was far different and often existed in small urban concentrations, still having to find themselves underground. Idols centered around a peculiar group of young urbanites Larrain met at the legendary NYC dive Max’s Kansas City, The Cockettes. The Cockettes were a daring and fearless bunch of young queer and trans activists and creatives, or as Larrain referred to as “architects of their own bodies, look and lifestyle”. They dressed like no other and carried attitudes and styles that would make your grandmother clutch her rosary, looks that were simply demanding to be in Larrain’s studio.

While its reception upon its release was met with many questions and concerns, we are fortunate to look at the images within Idols today as oddly familiar and contemporary, a body of work ahead of its time and perhaps not ready to be understood. The colorful and eccentric figures in Idols remind us that rebellion and the spirit of self cannot be oppressed and will persevere throughout the generations.

Following the release of Idols, Larrain went on to create projects like Flamenco in 1983, inspired by his love and personal connection to flamenco music and dance. His work has been shown in many exhibitions and museums both nationally and internationally. In his later career, Larrain found comfort in his Soho studio where he would continue his practice and help teach a new generation of photographers. In October of 2025, Gilles Larrain passed on, leaving behind a rich, colorful career that has inspired and given validation to so many alternative and queer photographers and artists. 

IDOLS - Steven Kasher Gallery

GALLERY