Del LaGrace Volcano (b.1957)
Words and handkerchief by Michelle Olley
I can’t think of anyone who has done more exploration and advocacy on the construct of gender than Del LaGrace Volcano. I first met Del when we were both part of the early 90s London fetish world; they were documenting the emerging SM dyke scene, I was one of the team at Skin Two magazine. I immediately fell in love with their fearless-yet-tender images that challenged gender normatives while exuding that engagement you only get with true collaborations – not just with the models but with us, their audience, too. Since then I have watched Del’s work and life evolve together with their activism around gender and, in particular, the intersex community. Del and their wife live in Sweden now, where they are bringing up their family in a non-binary environment. The self-portrait of Del I chose to make into a hero hankie is from their drag king series, entitled Bluebeard, Self-Portrait (1999).
This artwork is part of The Wall of Sexual Heroes, a collaborative textile art piece featured in our previous exhibitions at the Horse Hospital (2022) and Bow Arts Lab (2023). All embroidered, printed and appliquėd handkerchiefs celebrate unsung heroes of sexual emancipation, activism and innovation.
The Wall is an organic work. If you would like to contribute, please get in touch with The Keeper.
