Yes We Can – 16x20” Gay Muscle Drawing, Black & White Crayon on Tan Paper by Kenney Mencher, Queer Art on Strength and Pride
FREE SHIPPING
Shipping takes 3-4 Weeks
This ships from Round Lake Beach, Illinois. A suburb outside of Chicago.
I use UPS and sometimes US Post.
This drawing is called Yes We Can. I wanted to make something simple and bold—an image about strength, not just physical, but emotional and symbolic too. The pose, the tank top, the turned-down gaze—it’s classic. It's quiet power.
The title plays off political slogans and personal affirmations. It’s a kind of queer reimagining of those vintage “can-do” posters, reframed through a softer, more intimate lens. This guy isn’t flexing for show—he’s in his own head, focused, maybe reflecting on what it took to build himself into who he is.
I used black and white crayon on warm tan paper, which helps the light pop across the shoulder and bicep without needing any background. The texture of the paper keeps things earthy and real. You can see how the highlights bring energy to the muscle, and how the crayon marks stay loose but deliberate—especially around the forearm and jawline.
The piece has a sketchbook immediacy, but there’s a lot of control here too. I worked slowly, layering tone and shape until the form felt weighty and grounded. I didn’t want perfection—I wanted presence.
This definitely taps into queer art traditions—especially ones that celebrate male beauty, strength, and introspection without glossing it over. You might see a nod to Tom of Finland in the admiration of the male body, but this isn’t hyper-stylized. It’s more like Diebenkorn’s honesty meets a gym selfie through the eyes of someone who cares about more than surface.
The RESIST 2025 signature is part of it too—it's not just about bodies, it's about pushing back on who gets to be seen as strong, worthy, and desirable.
Whether this drawing feels erotic, political, nostalgic, or just plain cool—it's meant to hold all those things at once.
Details:
Title: Yes We Can
Medium: Black and white crayon on tan paper
Size: 16 x 20 inches
Year: 2025
Signed “RESIST 2025 KMM” on front
Unframed
Ships flat in archival sleeve with board backing
FREE SHIPPING
Shipping takes 3-4 Weeks
This ships from Round Lake Beach, Illinois. A suburb outside of Chicago.
I use UPS and sometimes US Post.
This drawing is called Yes We Can. I wanted to make something simple and bold—an image about strength, not just physical, but emotional and symbolic too. The pose, the tank top, the turned-down gaze—it’s classic. It's quiet power.
The title plays off political slogans and personal affirmations. It’s a kind of queer reimagining of those vintage “can-do” posters, reframed through a softer, more intimate lens. This guy isn’t flexing for show—he’s in his own head, focused, maybe reflecting on what it took to build himself into who he is.
I used black and white crayon on warm tan paper, which helps the light pop across the shoulder and bicep without needing any background. The texture of the paper keeps things earthy and real. You can see how the highlights bring energy to the muscle, and how the crayon marks stay loose but deliberate—especially around the forearm and jawline.
The piece has a sketchbook immediacy, but there’s a lot of control here too. I worked slowly, layering tone and shape until the form felt weighty and grounded. I didn’t want perfection—I wanted presence.
This definitely taps into queer art traditions—especially ones that celebrate male beauty, strength, and introspection without glossing it over. You might see a nod to Tom of Finland in the admiration of the male body, but this isn’t hyper-stylized. It’s more like Diebenkorn’s honesty meets a gym selfie through the eyes of someone who cares about more than surface.
The RESIST 2025 signature is part of it too—it's not just about bodies, it's about pushing back on who gets to be seen as strong, worthy, and desirable.
Whether this drawing feels erotic, political, nostalgic, or just plain cool—it's meant to hold all those things at once.
Details:
Title: Yes We Can
Medium: Black and white crayon on tan paper
Size: 16 x 20 inches
Year: 2025
Signed “RESIST 2025 KMM” on front
Unframed
Ships flat in archival sleeve with board backing
FREE SHIPPING
Shipping takes 3-4 Weeks
This ships from Round Lake Beach, Illinois. A suburb outside of Chicago.
I use UPS and sometimes US Post.
This drawing is called Yes We Can. I wanted to make something simple and bold—an image about strength, not just physical, but emotional and symbolic too. The pose, the tank top, the turned-down gaze—it’s classic. It's quiet power.
The title plays off political slogans and personal affirmations. It’s a kind of queer reimagining of those vintage “can-do” posters, reframed through a softer, more intimate lens. This guy isn’t flexing for show—he’s in his own head, focused, maybe reflecting on what it took to build himself into who he is.
I used black and white crayon on warm tan paper, which helps the light pop across the shoulder and bicep without needing any background. The texture of the paper keeps things earthy and real. You can see how the highlights bring energy to the muscle, and how the crayon marks stay loose but deliberate—especially around the forearm and jawline.
The piece has a sketchbook immediacy, but there’s a lot of control here too. I worked slowly, layering tone and shape until the form felt weighty and grounded. I didn’t want perfection—I wanted presence.
This definitely taps into queer art traditions—especially ones that celebrate male beauty, strength, and introspection without glossing it over. You might see a nod to Tom of Finland in the admiration of the male body, but this isn’t hyper-stylized. It’s more like Diebenkorn’s honesty meets a gym selfie through the eyes of someone who cares about more than surface.
The RESIST 2025 signature is part of it too—it's not just about bodies, it's about pushing back on who gets to be seen as strong, worthy, and desirable.
Whether this drawing feels erotic, political, nostalgic, or just plain cool—it's meant to hold all those things at once.
Details:
Title: Yes We Can
Medium: Black and white crayon on tan paper
Size: 16 x 20 inches
Year: 2025
Signed “RESIST 2025 KMM” on front
Unframed
Ships flat in archival sleeve with board backing
