Martin Schoeller: Drag Queens

Close-up portraiture of the most famous drag performers in America, from Brooke Lynn Hytes to Aquaria

Over the last two decades, drag shows have moved from shadowy niche corners to the center of the popular zeitgeist, aided in no small measure by their photogenic appeal. But what makes a good portrait of a drag queen? It’s easy to get lost in all the glitz and glamor of drag, failing to appreciate the essence, diversity and power of who these artists are and what they really do. A good portrait, as German photographer Martin Schoeller (born 1968) shows in Drag Queens, captures more than a person’s look, offering a glimpse into the subject’s inner world, emotions, motivations and imagination. Much more than theatrical cross-dressing, drag is about the creation of a living spectacle that tells a story and reveals a version of self that might otherwise go unnoticed. In Schoeller’s images, drag emerges as a form of dynamic portraiture that conveys all the possibilities of who we imagine ourselves to be, and allows us to live and share these stories—even if just for one night.