The work of Slovak artist Andrej Dúbravský presents a world of bees, caterpillars, flowers, and naked boys who return the viewer’s gaze with confidence. His paintings feel direct and untamed, seemingly created under a wide, idyllic sky. Dúbravský, who is one of Slovakia’s most internationally successful artists, lives and works in the countryside near Bratislava, where he maintains a garden that provides inspiration for his dreamy, washed-out style.

His paintings are like fleeting summer memories, but they also speak to the fragile balance between humans, animals, and plants. They tell a story of resistance through diversity and sexual self-determination. As an openly queer artist, Dúbravský has faced criticism in conservative Slovakia. In 2023, a painting of two naked men embracing caused a public scandal and was criticized by the country’s Minister of Culture. This backlash, while generating international support for the artist, reflects a harsher political climate.

The title of his new exhibition, Protest of Peculiars, is a direct statement. Dúbravský is committed to diversity, both in nature and within the queer community. He counters the common ideal of a slim, athletic gay man by portraying the sexual appeal of larger bodies. His paintings show men with round bellies in tender contact with figures that resemble his own alter egos.

Full of emotion and sensuality, his work conveys a way of life defined by openness, hospitality, and a natural sex appeal. The exhibition is on view at the Kunstpalais in Erlangen from November 28, 2025, to February 22, 2026.