M. Sharkey is a photographer, filmmaker and writer living in Brooklyn. QUEER KIDS, his long-term documentary project, has had solo exhibitions nationally and internationally at locations including Galerie de la Main de Fer, Perpignan; Rainbow House, Brussels; Les Rencontres d’Arles and at Lamont Gallery, Phillips Exeter Academy. Sharkey's work has appeared in numerous publications including Interview, New York magazine, The Guardian/Observer, La Repubblica, Stern and T: The New York Times Style Magazine and been included in various exhibitions at venues such as the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay & Lesbian Art, New York, NY; Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; and the Staten Island LGBT Community Center.
In 2016, Sharkey co-founded Coffey Street Studio, a 13k sq. ft. warehouse studio located in Red Hook, Brooklyn dedicated to the development of new performance work.
In 2023, Sharkey co-founded the collective, Coordinated Artists, a group of performers, writers, directors, composers, designers and cinematographers working in film, theater, performance and music.
EXHIBITIONS & AWARDS:
2023
It Is a Painful Thing to Be Alone: We Are But One: DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, Prague
It Is a Painful Thing to Be Alone: We Are But One: DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, Prague
Cove Of Harmony: Portland Institute of Contemporary Art, Portland, OR
2022
Recipient of the SFAI (Santa Fe Art Institute) 2022 Revolution Residency, fall 2022
Recipient of the SFAI (Santa Fe Art Institute) 2022 Revolution Residency, fall 2022
Portraits of Pride (solo): Burlington City Hall, Burlington, VT
FOCUS ON THE MARGINS- New Queer Photography: group exhibition at freiraum für fotografie, Berlin. Curated by Katharina Mouratidi and Benjamin Wolbergs.
2021
Fast Slow Disco: Group exhibition at Foyer-LA, Los Angeles
Pride 1983 (solo): Vermont Folklife Center, Middlebury, VT. Curated by Meg Tamulonis of the Vermont Queer Archives. Presented by the Pride Center of Vermont
Fast Slow Disco: Group exhibition at Foyer-LA, Los Angeles
Pride 1983 (solo): Vermont Folklife Center, Middlebury, VT. Curated by Meg Tamulonis of the Vermont Queer Archives. Presented by the Pride Center of Vermont
2020
Queer Exonians (solo): Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH. Curated by Lauren O’Neil, director of Lamont Gallery
Queer Exonians (solo): Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH. Curated by Lauren O’Neil, director of Lamont Gallery
2019
The Portrait Is Political: BRIC OPEN, Brooklyn, NY. Curated by Liz Collins with Anna Parisi and Sol Nova
2018
Cast of Characters: The Bureau of General Services—Queer Division and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, NYC. Curated by Liz Collins
The Portrait Is Political: BRIC OPEN, Brooklyn, NY. Curated by Liz Collins with Anna Parisi and Sol Nova
2018
Cast of Characters: The Bureau of General Services—Queer Division and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, NYC. Curated by Liz Collins
Recipient of 3 year Palette Fund grant for ongoing Queer Kids work
2017
Queer Kids (solo): Lamont Gallery, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH
Intersectional Identities: Clifford Chance US LLP, curated by Sam Gordon & Jacob Robichaux, NYC & DC
Hold These Truths: Nathan Cummings Foundation, NLE Curatorial Lab
2015
Provocative: The Grand Berlin in cooperation with Woeske Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2017
Queer Kids (solo): Lamont Gallery, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH
Intersectional Identities: Clifford Chance US LLP, curated by Sam Gordon & Jacob Robichaux, NYC & DC
Hold These Truths: Nathan Cummings Foundation, NLE Curatorial Lab
2015
Provocative: The Grand Berlin in cooperation with Woeske Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2014
Queer Kids (solo): The Stonewall Museum & Archive, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Queer Kids (solo): The Stonewall Museum & Archive, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Life as a Cheap Suitcase (Pandrogeny & a Search for a Unified Identity): Summerhall, Edinburgh, Scotland
Queer Kids: Les Rencontres d'Arles, France
Queer Kids Belgium (solo): Rainbow House, Brussels
Breaking Walls Festival: Theatre Frascati, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Queer Kids (solo): Des Images aux Mots film festival, Toulouse, France
2013
Queer Kids In America (solo): Galerie Double One, Brussels, Belgium
2012
Queer Kids (solo): Gallerie de la Main de Fer, Perpignan, France
Testimony: Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay & Lesbian Art, NYC
Permanence: curated by Paul Moakley, Staten Island LGBT Community Center, NYC
Lewd: curated by Greg Garry, Krause Gallery, NYC
2011
Pride Photo Award & Exhibition: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Queering Sex: curated by Kathryn Garcia and Sarvia Jasso, Human Resources, Los Angeles, CA
View on Art Now: Den Frie Udstillingsbygning/Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, Denmark
Crazy Lady: curated by Jane Harris, Schroeder Romero & Shredder, NYC
2010
Queer Voice: Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania
2009
You Can’t Rape The Willing: Second Floor, curated by Kathryn Garcia and Sarvia Jasso, Brooklyn, NY
American Photography Annual 24: Chosen
2005
American Photography Annual 20: Chosen
Queer Kids: Les Rencontres d'Arles, France
Queer Kids Belgium (solo): Rainbow House, Brussels
Breaking Walls Festival: Theatre Frascati, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Queer Kids (solo): Des Images aux Mots film festival, Toulouse, France
2013
Queer Kids In America (solo): Galerie Double One, Brussels, Belgium
2012
Queer Kids (solo): Gallerie de la Main de Fer, Perpignan, France
Testimony: Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay & Lesbian Art, NYC
Permanence: curated by Paul Moakley, Staten Island LGBT Community Center, NYC
Lewd: curated by Greg Garry, Krause Gallery, NYC
2011
Pride Photo Award & Exhibition: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Queering Sex: curated by Kathryn Garcia and Sarvia Jasso, Human Resources, Los Angeles, CA
View on Art Now: Den Frie Udstillingsbygning/Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, Denmark
Crazy Lady: curated by Jane Harris, Schroeder Romero & Shredder, NYC
2010
Queer Voice: Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania
2009
You Can’t Rape The Willing: Second Floor, curated by Kathryn Garcia and Sarvia Jasso, Brooklyn, NY
American Photography Annual 24: Chosen
2005
American Photography Annual 20: Chosen
BIBLIOGRAPHY & PRESS
2022
Art New England, March/April
PRIDE 1983
Art New England, March/April
PRIDE 1983
THE FACE, January 28
Queer Scenes and Stories from Around the World
2020
New Queer Photography, published by Verlag Kettler, Berlin
Edited by Ben Miller, design by Benjamin Wolbergs with text on
M. Sharkey’s Queer Kids by Alexander Chee
Autoren Bücher Künstler, Geistes Blüten
Michael Sharkey
2018
Flesh & Form: The Vassar Review
2017
The New York Times, October 4
Style That Demands to Be Seen
2014
New York magazine, October 30
See M. Sharkey’s Poignant Portraits of Queer Youth
BBC Mundo, October 29
El nuevo rostro de la sexualidad adolescente
PDN, October 29
Queer Kids: Portraits of Today’s Youth
Queer Scenes and Stories from Around the World
2020
New Queer Photography, published by Verlag Kettler, Berlin
Edited by Ben Miller, design by Benjamin Wolbergs with text on
M. Sharkey’s Queer Kids by Alexander Chee
Autoren Bücher Künstler, Geistes Blüten
Michael Sharkey
2018
Flesh & Form: The Vassar Review
2017
The New York Times, October 4
Style That Demands to Be Seen
2014
New York magazine, October 30
See M. Sharkey’s Poignant Portraits of Queer Youth
BBC Mundo, October 29
El nuevo rostro de la sexualidad adolescente
PDN, October 29
Queer Kids: Portraits of Today’s Youth
South Florida, October 23
The “Queer Kids” Are Alright
The “Queer Kids” Are Alright
Slate, October 10
For a New Generation of Queer Youth, the Closet Is No Longer Mandatory
2013
De Morgen, June 10
Michael Sharkey maakt in België portretten van jongeren die worstelen met seksuele identiteit
Jeunes Gays Bruxellois Sous l'Oeil de Michael Sharkey, May 29
Telebruxelles TV interview
Amerikaans Fotograaf Sharkey Zoekt Jongeren, May 29
FM Brussels radio interview (in English)
Seamless Photo, May 3
Profile of M. Sharkey
Michaelangelo Signorile's "The Gist", May 1
Sirius XM radio host & writer Michaelangelo Signorile talks with photographer
Michael Sharkey about his documentary project, Queer Kids
2012
The Photographer Discloses, October 4
M. Sharkey and the Kids
12 Questions, January 4
Interview with M. Sharkey
2011
The Oral Fix, Episode #027, December 11
Radio podcast interview with M. Sharkey
The Huffington Post, Gay Voices, November 16
QUEER KIDS
Têtu, November
Une Jeunesse Américaine
La Repubblica, D magazine, September 3
Siamo Seri, Siamo Queer
The Guardian UK: The Observer Magazine, July 9
Young (gay) Americans – in pictures
TIME LightBox, June 26
Coming Out In America: Michael Sharkey’s Queer Kids
2010
aCurator
Queer Kids: A project by M. Sharkey
For a New Generation of Queer Youth, the Closet Is No Longer Mandatory
2013
De Morgen, June 10
Michael Sharkey maakt in België portretten van jongeren die worstelen met seksuele identiteit
Jeunes Gays Bruxellois Sous l'Oeil de Michael Sharkey, May 29
Telebruxelles TV interview
Amerikaans Fotograaf Sharkey Zoekt Jongeren, May 29
FM Brussels radio interview (in English)
Seamless Photo, May 3
Profile of M. Sharkey
Michaelangelo Signorile's "The Gist", May 1
Sirius XM radio host & writer Michaelangelo Signorile talks with photographer
Michael Sharkey about his documentary project, Queer Kids
2012
The Photographer Discloses, October 4
M. Sharkey and the Kids
12 Questions, January 4
Interview with M. Sharkey
2011
The Oral Fix, Episode #027, December 11
Radio podcast interview with M. Sharkey
The Huffington Post, Gay Voices, November 16
QUEER KIDS
Têtu, November
Une Jeunesse Américaine
La Repubblica, D magazine, September 3
Siamo Seri, Siamo Queer
The Guardian UK: The Observer Magazine, July 9
Young (gay) Americans – in pictures
TIME LightBox, June 26
Coming Out In America: Michael Sharkey’s Queer Kids
2010
aCurator
Queer Kids: A project by M. Sharkey
Ad/Creative Agencies + TV:
Almost Gold Records
Avrett, Free & Ginsberg
Deitch Projects
The Discovery Channel
Logo
Mirror Ball/Co-Lab
MTV
SONY/BMG
Secretly Canadian
Universal McCann
Avrett, Free & Ginsberg
Deitch Projects
The Discovery Channel
Logo
Mirror Ball/Co-Lab
MTV
SONY/BMG
Secretly Canadian
Universal McCann
Editorial Clients:
Art Forum
Best Life
Blender
Blond
Blueprint (UK)
Bust
Details
Elle (UK)
Evening Standard
Flaunt
The Guardian
GQ
Interview
Kinki
National Geographic Kids
Newsweek
New York Magazine
The Observer (UK)
Out
People
Radar
La Repubblica
Revolver
S magazine
Soma
Spin
The Source
Spoon
StereoType
T: NY Times Style Magazine
Têtu
TIME
Vibe
View (Stern)
Best Life
Blender
Blond
Blueprint (UK)
Bust
Details
Elle (UK)
Evening Standard
Flaunt
The Guardian
GQ
Interview
Kinki
National Geographic Kids
Newsweek
New York Magazine
The Observer (UK)
Out
People
Radar
La Repubblica
Revolver
S magazine
Soma
Spin
The Source
Spoon
StereoType
T: NY Times Style Magazine
Têtu
TIME
Vibe
View (Stern)