Christoph Sawyer

Lives and works in Harrison, NY, USA

Artist statement

I create art through sustained engagement with queer archives, using collaborative photography and laser engraving to activate forgotten histories. My practice bridges contemporary community documentation and historical research, transforming both archival and original images into tactile sculptures through laser etching on diverse materials. Recent work includes collaborative photography at MMX, a men's massage studio in Chelsea, documenting authentic queer intimacy through community-engaged practice. This parallels my archival investigations, including multi-year research with the George Daniell estate that resulted in laser-engraved self-portraits responding to his 1930s Hudson River series. By etching images onto corduroy, mirrored acrylic, painted wood, and watercolor, I transform photographs into objects demanding physical engagement. This material process mirrors my broader practice of activating dormant histories—making the untouchable touchable, the invisible visible. Drawing from queer photography lineages while engaging critical archival methodologies, my work recovers marginalized stories through collaborative practice and material experimentation, celebrating both contemporary community and historical legacy.

Artwork