Cobi Moules is the 'New Kid on the Block' in latest show

Lyons Wier Gallery in Chelsea is currently presenting a collection of work by transgender artist Cobi Moules for the show New Kid, inspired by his childhood fantasies and the 80s pop group, New Kids On The Block. Moules began to explore his sexual identity by the time he was out of college and started to come into his own by the time he reached his 20s. During this time, Moules has made a name for himself as a conceptual realist painter while studying landscape painting at the Hudson River School where he developed his own technique of inserting images of himself into his work.

Moules’ landscape paintings were primarily focused on renegotiating his relationship with family, while this latest series of works is more about tapping into childhood obsession and searching for identity. The New Kids on the Block rose to fame when Moules was in elementary school and idolized the band immensely and is now bringing those fantasies to the canvas with several paintings (including paintings in the form of trading cards) inspired by fan posters of the group posing in various settings like studios, resorts, and school parking lots.

Studio Shot by Cobi Moules 

Like with his previous paintings, Moules inserts images of himself as one of the group members replacing Danny Wood as Moules never felt the same attachment to Danny as he did with the other members being that Danny was the sporty and athletic member, which Moules didn’t relate to. There is however, one small portrait of Danny included in the show, “I do understand when you’re young you reject people but as an adult reflecting on it it’s like ‘I know I rejected you but I still want you to be part of it,’ explains Moules. Perhaps like many teenagers, Jordan Knight was the member Moules most admired and many of the paintings in the show feature him and Moules being affectionate toward each other.

Moules studied at The School of The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston receiving an MFA in 2010. His work has been featured in many museums across the country and has received numerous awards including the SMFA Traveling Fellowship, Vermont Studio Center Fellowship, Blanche E. Colman Award, Joan Mitchell MFA Grant and SFAI Artist in Residence, Art Santa Fe, NM. Moules is currently based in Brooklyn.

At Lyons Wier Gallery, 542 W. 24th St., through Mar. 5. The gallery is open Tue.-Sat. from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. or by appointment.