HELLO!

My name is Dylan a.k.a. BoyKing. 

I'm a Queer illustrator from Portland, OR, 

My work focuses on playful and bright, homo erotic themes. 

I love a good sandwich. 

Being queer has had a profound impact on my work. Growing up as a closeted gay kid without queer representation, the first time I stumbled upon something that reflected the way I felt inside was gay porn. For the first time there was an image that represented the way I felt. That was powerful, and I’ll never stop trying to capture the feeling of seeing a validating wonderland for the first time. 

My mom is my initial creative supporter. Some of my first memories were of her showing me figure drawing books of bodies and parts from every angle. Most were nude, and I had no concept of sex, but the proud, naked forms transformed the way I looked at them - as beautiful not shameful. It stuck.  To this day I try to capture the raw feeling of those early drawings. Bodies daring the viewer to look at their beauty, their similarities and more importantly, their differences.

I grew up in Portland, OR. Then moved Los Angeles to attend liberal arts college to get my BFA in film. I am forever grateful for that experience. The backdrop of sun, palm trees and boys has very much influenced my work. It was a magical time and I gained lifelong friends who all understand the inherent need to create. 

I moved back to Portland by accident in the summer of 2015. A younger me, inspired by Jack Kerouac’s book, On the Road, bought a 26 passenger bus with some friends with the intention to drive to Alaska. The bus, named Ziggy, broke down multiple times. In seven days, a mere 150 miles from where we started, the bus died and Northern California became its final resting place. Downhearted, I returned to Portland,  but my love of the city was reignited.Dripping with creativity and inspiration, it reopened my eyes. Now, five years later, the city has done right by me and I plan to do right by her.

I had my first solo exhibition in Portland in 2018. It was at the edgy Optic Nerve Arts Tattoo shop. Ironically, I went in for a tattoo of a crown, the owner and I hit it off, the art opening happened three weeks later and BoyKing was born. 

Since then, my work has found homes with people from all over the world - thank you internet.

But this is just the beginning…