In the 1990s queer youth outcasts and artists flocked to San Francisco to find one another
and to experiment with art self-expression style and gender. Rent was affordable paving the
way for queer bars clubs tattoo shops galleries cafes bookstores and women-owned
businesses to emerge. A new wave of feminism embraced gender bending and butch femme culture
flourished. The Mission District was the center of this queer cultural renaissance and the
feeling of community was palpable. Chloe Sherman was both a member of this community and an
ardent visual chronicler. Her documentary photographic work on 35mm film stems from a
commitment to capturing the vibrancy tenderness individuality resilience and joy within
this subculture that was derided by mainstream society. Distilling the spirit of the time her
debut monograph is a candid portrait of a vibrant era that connects current and future
generations to the pulse of San Francisco at a pivotal chapter in queer history. CHLOE SHERMAN
(*1969 New York City) arrived in San Francisco in 1991 and earned her BFA in Photography at
the San Francisco Art Institute. Her work has been exhibited internationally and featured in
magazines such as Rolling Stone and Interview. Her documentary photography is deeply influenced
by her fine arts training.
