Savage Rising

Rey Gonzalez

Savage Rising: This exhibition is an unapologetic expression of sexuality with an emphasis on counter-culture style, featuring dark and sultry images of people empowered by their own body and by the passions they find and experience with others.  

The very word, “Savage,” was originally used to describe people who gave in to their carnal desires and engaged in what was often considered immoral.  It is a word often used to describe hedonistic behavior.  It is a word to describe that which brings about feelings we are not sure we should be having… or enjoying.  This exhibition is an embrace of carnality and of the term, Savage.

About the Artist: Rey Gonzalez is a Lexington based freelance photographer.  Born in Texas and raised in California, he is the son of migrant workers and is first generation Mexican-American living in Lexington for the past 10 years.  He is largely self-taught, having photographed for nearly three years. He work is influenced by photographers such as Haris Nukem and Santiago Traverso.  He has since worked with a talented menagerie of models through local groups such as BurLex, Sora Aerial Arts, Expansion, Chaos Cabaret, Beerlesque, Troupe Dagaz, and Mecca Dance Studio.  His work has been featured in the annual PRHBTN Gallery through the Lexington Art League and various local establishments.

To Rey, photography is a form of therapy:   “The world is insane.  The world can be terrible and full of pain.  But it’s also beautiful. The world looks different through a camera lens.  You train yourself to look for beauty and you can find beauty in anything.”

He lives in Lexington with his wife, April, his dog, Willie, and his camera.