Interview
The Dirty Archangel
Dirty Archangel is a passionate hedonist, philocalist, and self-published poet, with a penchant for capturing the sensational essence of life through his lens. Based in NYC, he's spent nearly two decades refining his unique, self-taught photography style, focusing primarily on the realms of eroticism and BDSM. Through his art, Dirty Archangel seeks to celebrate the female form in all its myriad expressions - a poetic entity that transcends form, size, and color. His photography is a testament to his vision, portraying the female body under the BDSM umbrella in a manner that is profound, mind-bending, and thought-provoking.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I began my journey into photography nearly 20 years ago in Turkey when I first held a simple point-and-shoot camera in my hands. Though the camera was modest, the power it gave me was anything but. It allowed me to freeze time, capturing fleeting moments and preserving their beauty forever. That first camera ignited a lifelong passion, and through it, I discovered the transformative magic of photography. In 2007, I moved to the United States, and life brought me closer to the city of my dreams - New York City. Living near this magnificent metropolis, the most beautiful city in the world, has been a constant source of inspiration. The towering skyscrapers, the vibrant streets, the ever-changing light - it all fuels my creativity and fills me with joy. As a self-taught photographer, I have spent countless hours honing my craft in this iconic city. My love for it, my endless curiosity, and my devotion to capturing its essence have shaped me into the artist I am today. Over time, my artistic journey led me into unexplored territories. I was introduced to the world of BDSM and eroticism, a realm of raw, unfiltered beauty that defies conventional norms. My eyes were opened to the profound pleasure and intimacy found in what society often labels as sinful or unholy. With a unique ability to think beyond the constraints of time, place, and societal expectations, I developed a deeper understanding and appreciation of the human experience. This perspective has allowed me to celebrate the untamed and unashamed aspects of life through my lens, creating art that challenges taboos and highlights the beauty of liberation and vulnerability. Today, I see photography as a bridge between worlds - urban and intimate, timeless and taboo. Each image I create is an invitation to pause, to reflect, and to see beauty where others might not. My work celebrates the spectrum of human experience, from the awe-inspiring skyline of New York City to the delicate, daring expressions of human desire.”
What inspires you?
“What inspires me most is the human brain - an endless, intricate labyrinth of creativity and emotion. It is the origin of every idea, the wellspring of every innovation, and the architect of all that we feel. The brain holds the power to craft emotional landscapes, turning thoughts into profound experiences that resonate deeply within us. This ability to imagine, to dream, and to create is a boundless source of inspiration for me. Equally fascinating is the human body - a vessel capable of experiencing unimaginable depths of pleasure and sensation. It is an instrument tuned to a symphony of feelings, yet so much of its potential remains untouched, unexplored. Society often conditions us to fear the doors that true self-discovery might open, to shy away from the unfamiliar or the ‘forbidden.’ But within those doors lies an entire universe of human experience waiting to be uncovered - a raw, unfiltered beauty that thrives in vulnerability and liberation. I am inspired by the courage it takes to embrace this unknown, to challenge taboos and redefine what it means to live fully. It is in the merging of these two marvels - the human mind's capacity to imagine and the body’s potential to feel - that I find the essence of my art. Through my work, I strive to honor both the mind's boundless creativity and the body’s limitless ability to experience, inviting others to step closer to their own truths and see the beauty in what they once feared.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“The central theme that drives my photography is the exploration of pleasure - not the simple, surface-level kind, but the profound, hedonistic pleasure that resides in the uncharted territories of human experience. I’m drawn to the places we’re warned never to tread, the doors marked with the signs of our deepest fears, the hidden corridors within ourselves where pain and pleasure are intricately entwined. These are the places that test our courage and reveal our truths, spaces that challenge our understanding of who we are and what we desire. Through my work, I aim to capture and convey the essence of this journey - where vulnerability meets liberation, and where fear transforms into an electrifying wave of ecstasy that reverberates through the soul. These dark, forbidden places are not just where pleasure is found but where it becomes transformative, reshaping the way we see ourselves and the world around us. The message I want to deliver with my art is both a warning and an invitation: You should be afraid, but you should also embrace the waves of pleasure that fear brings. It’s in this duality - in the tension between resistance and surrender, pain and release - that true freedom is discovered. My hope is that my photography acts as a mirror for viewers, urging them to confront their fears and find beauty, even ecstasy, in the places they’ve been told to avoid. Only by embracing the unknown can we fully awaken to the depth and richness of human experience.”
How would you describe your work?
“I describe my work as daring - art that boldly steps into the spaces most people avoid. It challenges conventions, pushes boundaries, and dares you to confront the thoughts and emotions you might have hidden from yourself. My art is mind-bending, not in a superficial sense, but in a way that twists your perspective, making you question what you know about pleasure, fear, vulnerability, and even your own identity. When you first encounter my work, it may make you uncomfortable. That’s intentional. True art doesn’t just exist to decorate walls; it exists to shake the foundation of your assumptions, to provoke thought, and to ignite emotions you didn’t realize you carried. My work invites you into a dialogue with your own discomfort, forcing you to question why you feel the way you do. But discomfort is just the beginning. If you have the courage to drop your guard and allow my art to enter your mind, you’ll discover it’s not just about the surface imagery. It’s about what lies behind the curtain - the hidden desires, fears, and truths we bury deep within ourselves. My art becomes a mirror, reflecting parts of you that you might not have fully understood before. It challenges you to stop running from who you are and instead lean into self-discovery. The journey my work offers is not passive; it’s active and deeply personal. It’s about finding the bravery to explore the shadows of your soul and coming out on the other side transformed. In the end, my goal is for you to see yourself more clearly - not the version shaped by societal expectations, but the raw, unfiltered, authentic you. That’s the power of art when it’s allowed to go beyond your defenses: it reveals not just what the artist sees but what you’ve always known, hidden in the depths of your own being.”
Which artists influence you most?
“Photographer Tyler Shields, Illustrator Apollonia Saintclair, Painter Jack Vettriano, Photographers Julie Delcourt, Nobuyoshi Araki and Helmut Newton.”
“What inspires me most is the human brain - an endless, intricate labyrinth of creativity and emotion.”
What is your creative process like?
“My creative process is unpredictable, almost electric, igniting from the most unexpected moments. Inspiration can strike anywhere - while I’m deep in the pages of a book, immersed in the world of a movie, or captivated by a scene in a TV show. A fleeting idea, a moment of dialogue, or a visual cue can light a spark in my mind, and I’ll follow it like a thread, unraveling and reweaving it into something uniquely my own. It’s like standing at the crossroads of imagination, where a single idea can lead me to endless creative destinations. Sometimes, I’m drawn to the past, discovering inspiration in the artistry of a very old erotic painting. There’s something timeless in the sensuality and boldness of these works that captivates me. But I don’t just want to replicate what’s already been done. I want to reinvent it, breathing new life into it with my own twist, my own perspective, and my own voice. I aim to take something historical, something classical, and filter it through the lens of my modern interpretation - melding the old and the new, the familiar and the unexpected. For me, inspiration isn’t a linear path; it’s a constant interplay of influences - ideas that collide, evolve, and sometimes take on a life of their own. My creative process is like a journey where I’m both the navigator and the passenger, driving an idea to its destination but allowing it to surprise me along the way. Whether it starts with a thought sparked by a scene or an image from the past, it always evolves into something deeply personal, a piece of art that reflects the layers of my creativity and individuality.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“The role of the artist in society is a vital, almost rebellious one. It’s not just to create beauty or tell stories but to serve as the unflinching challenger of the mundane, the stagnant, and the status quo. An artist’s mission is to ensure that the world doesn’t slip into a sleepy, repetitive rhythm, where curiosity dies and growth halts. We are here to provoke, to disrupt, and to ask uncomfortable questions. While most people prefer to keep the doors to the unknown tightly shut, the artist dares to open them. Instead of hiding in the closet from imagined monsters, the artist looks under the bed, staring directly at what others fear to confront. Yet, despite this vital role, the art world itself seems unwilling to embody the very spirit of exploration it often champions. It’s become far too comfortable - fixated on the safe, the familiar, and the glorified works of the past. The same great names are lauded time and time again, their brilliance undeniable, yet their dominance casts a shadow over the emerging voices of today. The next generation of artists, those who dare to push boundaries and redefine the very concept of art, are left to shout into the void, met with indifference by a system unwilling to take risks. This stagnation is troubling because art should evolve alongside society - it should challenge, inspire, and reflect the changing tides of human experience. But when the gatekeepers of the art world choose to cling to what is safe and proven, they stifle the creative energy that has the power to propel us forward. True art is dangerous, unpredictable, and transformative. It’s a flag that should be carried boldly into new territories, not left waving over the same conquered ground. As an artist, I feel the weight of this challenge. To push against the barriers, to open those doors that society—and often the art world itself - prefers to keep locked. The role of the artist isn’t to play it safe; it’s to unsettle, to awaken, and to dare. And despite the resistance, the true artist persists, carving a path forward for the sake of evolution, discovery, and the unrelenting pursuit of truth.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“My work was exhibited in the places listed below: BodySpaces – Canvas International Art Fair (2024) organized by Itsliquid Group, in collaboration with ACIT Venice – Italian-German Cultural Association and Seattle Erotic Festival (2023). I won a People`s Choice Award at the Tucson Erotica Art Show. My work was also exhibited at the ArtExpo in New York in 2016 and 2017.”
Website: www.dirtyarchangel.com
Instagram: @dirty.archangel.v2
