The Incredible Vintage Erotica Exhibits at the Bob Mizer Foundation Right Now

If you are a San Francisco resident, you’re probably familiar with one of the city’s gems: The Bob Mizer Foundation, located on Larkin Street. Bob Mizer was a precursor of male erotica photography, starting to self-publish his work in 1951. Erotica, queer culture, DIY, and self-publishing are all part of the counterculture that has helped shape San Francisco into what it is today.

Bob Mizer Foundation

I was excited to see that the Bob Mizer Foundation was hosting not one, but two exhibitions during the First Thursdays Art Walk! One of these exhibitions featured the great Karlheinz Weinberger, a Swiss photographer who documented the rebellious youth of Zurich in the 1960s. A true revolutionary, Weinberger lived with his mother and worked a 9-to-5 job at a factory. After work, he noticed a group of around 30 young and edgy men and women dressed in denim, leather boots, pompadour hairstyles, and huge DIY belts with images of Elvis and James Dean. They also wore super cool hand-painted and hand-sewn jean jackets. A gang of fashionable, sexy rebels.

Karlheinz Weinberger

Weinberger used to watch them and slowly got their trust to let him photograph them. They were exhibitionists and he was a curious audience. He invited them over to his apartment where they could drink (he used to let them drink his fine whiskey) and smoke outside of the eyes of authority. Sometimes they would take their clothes off and masturbate for Weinberger’s lens, he never participated in sexual activities with the models as far as we know, and honestly there’s not much we know about him with the exception of a few books. That’s why this exhibition is so important and special.

Karlheinz Weinberger

The curious part for me is how similar scenes happened in different countries around the same time, the exploration of male erotica with Bob Mizer in Los Angeles and Karheinz Weinberger in Zürich. Being gay was illegal, they knew what they wanted and went for it fearlessly. Mizer was actually arrested for distributing illicit material and Weinberger had his home seized by the police in the 60’s (although European cops let him keep his favorite photos).

The rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic was present in Baltimore around that time, as John Waters recalls his neighbor who inspired the character and movie ‘Cry-Baby.’ When Waters saw Weinberger’s photos for the first time, he couldn’t believe this scene wasn’t in Baltimore, so he flew to Zurich and bought some of his photos. He recalls that the photographer kept them under his bed in the apartment he lived in and used as a studio, with graffiti on the ceiling, dark and dusty—the same place where most of these photos were taken decades earlier.

Weinberger’s work remains underground. This opportunity to see his photos in real life is a treat, and anyone interested in fashion, counterculture, photography, and rebellion shouldn’t miss it. Some photos remind me of the guys and girls I saw at the first Burger Boogaloo (now Mosswood Meltdown) in Oakland around 2015-2016. That edgy style you don’t see all the time—it takes work and maintenance, but it’s pure rock ‘n’ roll.

Bruce Hackney, the curator of the show, will be at the gallery on June 21st for a discussion about Weinberger’s work, featuring curated slides. ‘The Outsider’s Gaze’ will be a great opportunity to get acquainted with his work or to learn more about it. Get your tickets here.

Photo: Pacolli

On top of that, The Bob Mizer Foundation is currently hosting an impressive exhibit titled ‘Physique Pictorial – The Manufacture, Craft, and Art of Mizer’s Magazine,’ curated by Maxwell Sutter Zinkievich. Max guided me through both exhibits during the opening, and I’ll be sharing more about his work with the Foundation soon – so stay tuned!

This exhibition delves into the history of Physique Pictorial, exploring its meticulous production of the issues and offering a behind-the-scenes look at the magazine’s operations. It’s an in-depth study of the makings of a mid-century underground zine.

I found it incredibly fascinating and spent a good time looking at the editions and their historical context. Among its features are remarkable paintings and illustrations, including pieces by the renowned Tom of Finland. The magazine also includes biographical and political articles written by Mizer, a true visionary ahead of his time. Physique Pictorial debuted in 1950 and saw a revival in 2017, with new editions continuing under The Bob Mizer Foundation.

Photo courtesy of The Bob Mizer Foundation

Copies of the magazines are available through the Foundation, and you can also support this vital cultural institution by becoming a member, which offers various benefits. Additionally, they’re running a Kickstarter campaign to launch casino-quality playing cards featuring iconic AMG models.

Get your Poker Cards through their Kickstarter

The Bob Mizer Foundation 
920 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Tuesday – Saturday 12 – 6PM