Being an artist in this economy ain’t easy, and you’d be forgiven for finding creative ways to get your brand out there. These days, let’s face it, you’ve gotta get a gimmick.
For NYC-based artist Cody Gene, finding an appropriate gimmick isn’t hard. As a very ripped lifestyle blogger and creator, he’s been able to successfully hawk his wares while documenting another body of work: his actual, very nice body.
Your day is about to get a little hotter
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It’s always cool to get a peek into how the sausage is made. On TikTok, Gene gives us a peek into…his artistic process, of course.
Gene’s art has been making a splash on social media since 2019, when he started posting cheeky videos of his process online. The work shortly got wider attention, leading to some of Gene’s art being featured on the late lamented queer sitcom Midcentury Modern. Gene’s work—much of it featuring an impossibly jacked bunny-man named Hero—has much in common with the queer, in-your-face artists whose work defined the downtown 90s aesthetic. Think Kenny Scharf, Keith Haring, Basquiat, and basically all the other artists Madonna name-checks in Danceteria.
These days, Gene is leaning into his viral image with vlogs that take us inside his very thirsty world. But it’s not all about the body-ody-ody—he’s also dropping wisdom and fighting the AI takeover that’s threatening to replace human-made art with gross, soulless crap. “I can paint realistically,” he says in a recent upload, “however, sometimes you need to paint expressively. It’s the point of being alive!”
We love an analog warrior! And so do Gene’s followers. “YOU’RE the art, baby” is the basic gist of the comments Gene gets on just about every video, and yes, he is not beating the Greek God allegations!
Gene is also staying booked and busy, which is pretty awesome. Recently, Grindr commissioned a Madonna portrait from the artist to celebrate Madonna’s Times Square performance. Getting paid to make THEE official portrait of Mother’s comeback era? Divine!
We also love that Gene’s not afraid to keep it real, like in the Pride Month post where he lets us in on the part of dating that makes him the most uncomfortable: his IBS. “I gotta be the annoying one that’s like, ‘I’m gonna fart, let’s go get water! Let’s go get tea!’” A relatable hot boy struggle!
Listen, maybe art isn’t your thing, but that’s where Gene is smart. His content is nothing if not diverse. From day-in-the-life style vlogs to videos with intriguing titles like “They got way too wet!” and “Who sent me underwear in the mail?” Gene knows how to keep our eyes on his page.
On another note…who DID send this man underwear in the mail? Behave yourself!
Artistry comes in many forms, and for Gene, being able to tell a compelling story (whether visually or aurally!) is a key compenent of what keeps viewers coming back for more. From the second his Alain Delon in Rocco and His Brothers avatar shows up on TikTok, we already know what time it is: time for some cheeky, silly, wonderfully artistic fun.
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