Kept on Wikipedia:Clifton Mooney
Clifton Mooney (born 1986), also known by his alias Gauche Cowboy, is an American photographer and visual artist based in Brooklyn, New York.[1] His work is noted for its raw intimacy, emotional subtlety, and explorations of physical and psychic vulnerability, often using Polaroid and analog techniques.[2] He has published work in fashion and culture magazines such as Vogue, V Magazine, and Interview, exhibited in New York and London, and produced a monograph, GAUCHE BOOK.[3][4]
Early Life and Education
Mooney was born in 1986 in Texas, USA. He is self-taught as an analog photographer, having developed his visual voice through instinct and practice rather than formal training.[5][6] Before pursuing photography, he worked as a nurse — an experience he has said helped him develop sensitivity to the body and emotional nuance.
Work
Mooney’s photographic practice foregrounds moments of quiet masculinity, corporeal tension, and emotional stillness. He often works with analog formats (Polaroid) and digital media, favoring atmosphere over gloss.[7] His images reject over-polishing in favor of fragile gestures and implied narrative and some photographs include Sharpie-marker text.
His imagery has appeared in Vogue, V Magazine, Interview, and Homme, and his work has been profiled in The New York Times and Out Magazine. In fashion and editorial contexts, he has shot campaigns or editorial spreads, and also integrates his personal photographic voice into cultural and queer contexts.
Selected Exhibitions & Projects
- Fall 2025: Gauche book release (first self-published project)
- Spring 2025: Photography for Hommes Les Publics Magazine, including cover and 12-page spread
- February 2025: Tiny Vices Archive (group show) at The Hole Gallery, New York City
- December 2024: MIU MIU campaign featuring Gigi Hadid, photography by Mooney
- June 2023: Two in 1 group show, Brick Gallery, London
- April 2023: Golden Leaf group show, Taaffe Gallery, Brooklyn
- December 2022: MIU MIU campaign with Emily Ratajkowski (photography by Mooney)
- October 2022: Photography in Neptune Magazine (for work by Max Zinser)
- July 2022: The Patriot group show, O’Flaherty’s Gallery, New York City
- July 2022: Sean & Val. The Zine, Vol. 2 — photo story by Mooney
- June 2022: Boys Boys Boys Magazine feature “Gauche Foto” by Mooney
- April 2022: Full Mooney feature in Out Magazine
- March 2022: Photography for Jon Kung interview in Interview Magazine
- January 2022: Sex, Drugs and Polaroids article in The New York Times focusing on Mooney’s work
- Dec 2021: Photography for Bowen Yang interview in Interview Magazine
- May 2021: Solo show Excerpts in Quarantine, West Lab Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
References
- ↑ "CLIFTON MOONEY". PNPPL zine. 2021-10-05. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
- ↑ "Clifton Mooney Makes Hot Queer Art From Humble Polaroids". www.out.com. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
- ↑ "Clifton Mooney Archives". Interview Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
- ↑ Olney, Julia (2021-09-17). "Muscles, Parfum, and Lipstick: The Objects of Desire from Carolina Herrera". Interview Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
- ↑ "The Largest Curated Selection of LGBTQIA+ Photographs of 2021!". Analog Forever Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
- ↑ "Clifton Mooney — Features and Interviews". Analog Forever Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
- ↑ Fornoff, Marcheta (2025-02-05). "What is 'mature content' at Carter museum's 'Cowboy' exhibit? Artists want to know". KERA News. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
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