MUSE

Souleo has appeared in three portraits by artist, Kehinde Wiley. 

Image Credit: Kehinde Wiley, After Memling’s Portrait of a Man in a Red Hat, 2013.

Souleo served as a muse for artist, Renee Cox's body of work, Sacred Geometry. According to the artist the work "...consists of digitally manipulated black & white portraits that display self-similar patterns. They are executed with precision, creating sculptural kaleidoscopes of the human body while exploring the power of symbols as elements of collective imagination."

Image Credit: Renee Cox, Souleo, 2015. From the series, Sacred Geometry.

Souleo has served as a muse for some of the wearable art made by his partner, Beau McCall. Here are a few examples.

Image Credit: Beau McCall, Hood Classic: The Ice Durag, 2021. 

Cotton, assorted clothing buttons (plastic, glow-in-the-dark, and custom ceramic buttons by Glaze Girl Designs), embroidery thread, crown: 23.5 in. and train: 77 in. Commissioned by Souleo. 

Souleo was selected as one of the models for the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art x Travis Taddeo collection. The Museum's first collaborative capsule collection combines the worlds of art and fashion to celebrate the wide spectrum of identities and experiences across the LGBTQIA+ community and recognize the oath-making spirit of its culture.

Click here for more info.

All photos by Deontè Lee.

Souleo has served as a muse for photographer, Ruben Natal-San Miguel. In the series Gym Crow: Morningside Heights, the artist engaged in a dialogue about social justice with Zaq Lansberg's Reclining Liberty statue.

Image Credit: Ruben Natal-San Miguel, Reclaiming Liberty with Reclining Liberty (Souleo), 2022. From the series, Gym Crow: Morningside Heights Park.

Souleo served as a muse (alongside his partner Beau McCall) in the Jessica Dunston series It's Love. The series spotlights Black couples. In the images Souleo and Beau are adorned in button wearable art created by the latter.

Image Credit: Jessica Dunston, Souleo & Beau McCall, 2022. From the series, It's Love.

Souleo was a muse for photographer, Abigail Ekue's series, Black in Black & White. According to the artist the series, "...features Black creatives and visionaries in dynamic black and white portraits. Those featured are active, thriving artists in their chosen creative fields."

Image Credit: Abigail Ekue, Black in Black and White: Souleo, 2020.

Souleo has served as a muse for photographer, Sean Manuel. According to the artist's website, "His  work aims to reinvent notions of beauty and explore the complexities of Blackness."

Image Credit: Sean Manuel, Souleo, 2021. 

Souleo served as a muse for Hollis King, photographer and former vice-president and creative director at the Verve Music Group the largest jazz record label in the world.

Image Credit: Hollis King, Souleo, 2014.

Souleo served as a muse for artist, Elan Cadiz's series Scaffold: Equity of Treatment. According to the artist the series "...is about the importance of self-reflection and preservation...The use of the scaffolding is to symbolize the individual care and support we all need."

Image Credit: Elan Cadiz, Souleo, 2020.