I'm Zain Curtis, an artist and creative director working across painting, textiles, photography, publishing, and film. My work is influenced by queer culture, Americana, pop culture, and whatever else happens to catch my attention.
I'm the founder of SENSITIVE CONTENT, an independent print magazine I started in response to the censorship of queer artists on social media. The magazine features artwork and photography that often has trouble finding a place online and has been covered by VICE and Queer Kentucky.
In 2022, I created the GAY BLOOD T-shirts, screen-printed using ink containing actual blood donated by gay men. Created in protest of the FDA's restrictions on blood donations from gay and bisexual men. The shirts ended up receiving international press coverage, including Hyperallergic.
I also work with photographer and filmmaker Brett Loudermilk through PAPERBOY Studios. Together, we've worked on photography, editorials, and music videos, including projects with Kesha and Orville Peck.
HAPPYDEVILBOY is my personal art project, made up of paintings, textiles, prints, and everything else. A lot of the work comes from my love of old Americana, western imagery, clowns, vintage advertising, and queer culture in general.
At the center of it all are the HAPPYDEVILBOYS, a cast of illustrations inspired by 1970s gay erotica, vintage beefcake magazines centered in the American West. They're possessed cowboys and clowns living in the surreal environment that lets them.
HAPPYDEVILBOY has taken on different forms over the years and will probably continue to change depending on what I'm interested in. There isn't really a grand concept behind it. It's mostly an excuse to make things I like.