The Phantasmagorical Landscapes of Edie Fake

The first time I saw the architectural drawings of artist Edie Fake, I just had to stop and look closely. The patterns, lines, colors, and geometric shapes make the page vibrate and my mind wander.

What are those phantasmagorical landscapes? They are a mixture of real and imaginary spaces where identity, gender, and sexuality playfully intermingle. The artist calls them “visual metaphors for queer spaces.”

Where are the inspiration and visual references coming from, you might be wondering? “All of my drawings start with a cycle of gathering found objects–scraps, charms, trash, old books, sketches of architectural ornamentation, fabric, and historical anecdotes,” says Edie Fake. “I basically assemble a nest of source material around me as I work–I like the alchemy that can happen inside a big, physical mess.”

I invite you to let your eyes meander and explore Fake’s colorful spaces. You might find stages, parade floats, and art deco buildings among countless more.

Edie Fake is a fine artist and comic book artist. He currently lives and works in Joshua Tree, California. His work has been shown nationally and internationally. It has been widely published in publications including Artforum, ArtNews, The Guardian, and Los Angeles Review of Books. His collection of comics, Gaylord Phoenix, received the Printed Matter Award and the Ignatz Award for Outstanding Graphic Novel.

All images © Edie Fake