Lucky 7: Jay Cartis
“Being more open with sexuality and having the full support of my social circle gave me the impulse to come out of this solitary journey and publically explore sensuality and intimacy in my work.”
Diversity in art, whether it be in subject matter, technique, or the artist, results in a rich tapestry of creativity. However, perhaps nowhere is this diversity more pronounced than in the realm of erotic art.
Erotic art is a deeply personal exploration of sexuality, intimacy, and desire. It is a space where artists explore the depths of their own desires, fantasies, and insecurities, channeling these raw emotions into captivating works of art.
Yet, the creation of erotic art is not merely a solitary endeavor—it is also an act of exhibitionism, inviting viewers into the intimate world of the artist's imagination.
In this interview with Jay, a French-born multimedia artist, they delve into their journey as an artist, finding confidence in their sexuality, and having the courage to bring their erotic artwork created in isolation into the public eye.
I hope you enjoy this interview with Jay Cartis.
1. What’s your name? - Where are you from? - Where are you now? Who are you—philosophically, ethically, artistically, and/or sexually?
I'm Jay Cartis. I was born in France but am currently based in Bruxelles for the obvious reason that France is going full fascist mode right now.
Many changes and healing are going on in my life right now, so I'm not sure how to think this through. I'm in the process of putting myself back together after years of depression which can be unsettling, but yet truly soothing.
Sexuality has not always been something I was so open to, but those past few years have been so liberating to me. Exploring kinks, polyamory, and sex-positive spaces gave me a sense of fulfillment that translated into a deeper understanding of myself that feels amazing. After I came out as bi, then as non-binary, I could express parts of myself that I kept hidden for such a long time. All this was possible because of my supportive and open partner, and I truly thank her for that.
As an artist, I'm unable to confine myself to a single medium. This constant evolution allowed me to traverse diverse fields of inspiration, each medium giving a unique touch to my future work. My art became a reflection of this part of me that's always changing and every medium I tried was the translation of what I needed to express at one point in my life. Photography is challenging for me because it's the first medium I can't produce on my own. Creation always has been a solitary process and I only have a few models to work with at the moment.
2. How did your household/groups outside of your home treat the topic of sex and eroticism when you were growing up? How do you think that informed your view on sexuality and your art?
Growing up, discussions revolving around sex and eroticism were clearly absent from the discourse within my family and social circles. It was an aspect of life that remained largely unaddressed, leaving me to navigate these questions on my own. In the absence of open dialogue, I found myself engaging in a more personal and solitary exploration of these themes, shaping my understanding of sexuality in private.
Exploring eroticism more discreetly allowed me to develop a nuanced and personal connection with this theme. This solitary exploration became a source of inspiration, impacting the way I approach the representation of intimacy and sensuality in my art. This introspective journey not only shaped my relationship with sexuality but also became an integral part of my artistic identity.
However, I must recognize my grandfather and how he influenced my appreciation for erotica. When I was a child, he made huge binders filled with images meticulously sorted by theme, which completely captivated me. Among the diverse content, some binders were about erotic art, showcasing a collection of nude photographs from the 20s to the 40s.
During my teenage years, these vintage images became a source of deep fascination, and to this day, I still have some of them. Reflecting on my artistic journey, I acknowledge that these binders served as a crucial starting point for what I now create as an artist.
It's funny to note that the discovery of these binders was also a solitary experience I hid from my family.
3. Was erotic art and content creation always something you wanted to pursue?
There are traces of erotic elements in my early work, but at the time, it wasn't something I felt like sharing with anyone. It took me so long to be comfortable with sex in general. I couldn't make this type of content my main focus even though I was already making it on the down low.
Being more sexually open gave me the confidence to actually show this part of myself off, and I have to thank my partner for that.
4. What has the evolution of your work looked like? When did you start exploring erotic subject matter?
I started to make art in my teenage years, initially drawn to painting and heavily influenced by neo-expressionism inspired by Basquiat. This phase transitioned into illustration, leading to the creation of my first zine, which was really chaotic but led me to dive into self-publishing.
I discovered glitch art and co-founded the micro-publishing collective Random Pixel Order (shout out to Clara) in 2013. For six years, we printed digital art and curated exhibitions, but eventually, we felt like we had completed our mission, so we stopped.
After that, I hated computers, so I returned to illustration, which is when I decided to embrace eroticism within my work. This shift to a more intimate exploration of sensuality became my main focus, marking a significant evolution in my artistic expression and, honestly, in myself.
Photography came into my artistic landscape out of the blue. I bought a camera from a pawnshop and began shooting with my partner. I knew I wanted to focus my photographs on erotism because it was always there somehow. In my early paintings, in some glitchy 3D, or in my drawings.
Being more open with sexuality and having the full support of my social circle gave me the impulse to come out of this solitary journey and publicly explore sensuality and intimacy in my work.
5. Pick a piece of your work (photo or video) and tell us about it. How did the concept of this piece come together? What story are you trying to tell? Did you like it when you published it, and do you still feel the same way?
This particular image holds significant importance for me as it marks the beginning of my artistic exploration into naturalism, becoming the starting point of my current creative focus.
The concept for this piece resolves in a reflection between instant cameras as a medium and how naturalistic imagery would be the perfect approach to make erotism with this type of gear. Simply, I wanted to comment on the quiet touch of everyday moments.
Even after its initial publication, I hold a deep love for this photograph because I feel like I successfully integrated this simplicity of intimacy I was looking for when I started this project.
It remains today one of my favorite pieces which still resonates with my current exploration into naturalism. This image truly reflects what I was conceptualizing when I decided to shoot.
I have to add that this is a picture of my partner, who's the most amazing woman I ever met.
6. What do your personal and artistic futures look like for you?
I'm in a transitional space, so it's hard to say. My life has changed a lot these past few years. I've been living in pretty extreme precariousness for most of my life. Now I have a job and a bit of money which has changed a lot of things for me. Post-COVID life was pretty unpredictable, and it put me in a very unstable situation. I needed to regain some stability and am currently focusing on that.
I think I'm at that point artistically where I don't want to put too much pressure on myself. After years of living out of social support and working only on my art projects, I feel the need to be more secure financially (which is new to me). At the moment, I have this impulse to make work inspired by the aesthetics of the 30s. I'm drawn to the idea of making some sort of timeless visuals that blend nostalgia within my naturalistic modern approach to nude photography. Instant film feels like the perfect medium to blend these motifs.
7. What influence do you hope to have on erotic art and content creation?
I would love to see a more naturalistic and personal approach to fetish photography. A lot of erotic content looks similar, especially on social media, and this terrifies me. I understand that algorithms don't give much space to uniqueness, but the uniformization of visual arts bores me to death.
If I could have any influence, it would be to show that fetish content can be so much more than a butt with latex gear on and handcuffs.
Anything to plug?
Find me on Instagram at @fever.form
