acrylic on canvas

11” W x 14” H

2026

“tentative” captures a still moment between confidence and self-doubt - a feeling that I think many gay men can relate to. The figure carries a sense of performative confidence, with a slight sway in the hips suggesting something sassy, self-assured, and almost playful. But beneath that confidence, the hand gently gripping the opposite arm behind the back reveals something more delicate: innocence, shyness, and uncertainty.

There is a tension between what the figure is presenting and what he may actually be feeling. The pose feels confident at first glance, but the subtle gestures tell a different story.

tentative is inspired by the countless moments where I have felt like I was performing confidence - trying to appear comfortable, assured, and unapologetically myself, while quietly struggling with self-doubt underneath. It explores that space where confidence isn't necessarily something you feel, but something you learn to embody.

For me, TENTATIVE is about the vulnerability behind the performance - the quiet uncertainty that can exist beneath a confident exterior.

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