Pioneering queer artists and photographers reveal how sex and sexuality influence their work

As told to Joseph Kocharian

Sex and contemporary art STYLE

Matt Lambert

Filmmaker, photographer and creative director, Matt Lambert’s work evokes a mesmerising intimacy. Whether he’s shooting celebrities such as Sam Smith and Tilda Swinton or models and porn stars, he creates a fully fleshed-out story that portrays sex and sexuality in unexpected and thought-provoking ways.

Intimate relationships are where I often find the most true version of someone and that’s what interests me. Sexuality can often be a by-product, or a means, of reaching that intimacy.

Each project I do requires a different approach, depending on the scene and the talent. I come from a filmmaking background, so I tend to build scenes rather than stage singular images. However, the way I create an image is very different if I’m shooting a professional performer with lots of experience, versus someone who’s never been in front of a camera before — or whether it’s a project that’s meant to feel staged or choreographed, as opposed to one that’s documentary.

“There are very few brands pushing the envelope, and the conglomerates that run the brands and the magazines out there are becoming more prudish”

Regardless of the type of project, making sure there’s a trust between myself, my team and who I’m shooting is crucial and this translates to comfort on set and constant, open communication. It’s always about collaboration and not reducing people to just objects.

Filmmaking is at the core of what I do, but photography continues to become a bigger part of the work I make, as it’s often intertwined with the stories I tell in film, and is by nature a much more immediate medium. It always comes down to creating worlds and telling stories.

My work is about intimacy. Sexually charged imagery isn’t essential to get to the core of someone or to create an intimate moment. Having limitations with someone and not baring all can be a challenge and will often give you a more provocative image.

Early on, I had to work so hard to explain my vision for projects — especially sexually charged ones — as there were so few examples of the kind of work I wanted to make out there. As time has gone on, people either know my work or I can show them projects that can communicate what I’m after. Ultimately, the kind of people I end up shooting are open-minded and excited by what I do. They tend to be people who can see the larger message or intimacy, free thought and celebration that the work is about.