Saumitra Chandratreya

05/09/2026

We Construct Intricate Rituals, Which Allow us to Touch, The Skin of Other Men. 2026
Inkjet on Cotton, Buckram, Polyester Thread, Embroidery thread, Poly-fil, Bicycle Hooks, and Spray Paint.
7”x7”x13” Each

Now on view for REALM art curated by

💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

A pair of dumbbells define a gymnasium. With this work, I want to argue that a gymnasium is a utilitarian, physical space where we work out, but it is fundamentally a culturally q***r space.

To help me make this argument, I decided to make a pair of soft sculpture dumbbells. These dumbbells are adorned with images of the covers of physique magazines like Physique Pictorial, Grecian Guild Pictorial, and MANual. These physique publications brought a lot of q***r men together through their circulation and dialogue over the correspondence when they couldn’t be openly q***r as a community. I also include images of the covers of two books - Buying Gay, by David Johnson, and SWOLE by Michael Andor Bordeur. I read these books for research. These books introduced me to the history of Physique Publications and essays about gym culture. You will also find screenshots included on the dumbbells of Sniffies, a q***r cruising app where cruisers can check in to particularly q***r gyms, transforming them into spaces to connect, convene, and co****le.

The text on dumbbells at the gymnasiums usually denote the amount of weight we are lifting while using the dumbbells. The dumbbells I made denote something completely different.

These dumbbells are relics of the present, and our future where we gatekeep q***r culture for ourselves and reclaim more spaces for us.

05/07/2026

REALM opens tomorrow at .art curated by so here are some BTS images of my work “We Construct Intricate Rituals, Which Allow us to Touch, The Skin of Other Men”

Opening reception is 6-10 pm, Friday, May 8. The exhibition runs through June 29th.

04/29/2026

Checking in with some spring of energy.

I have work in 3 exhibitions that open this weekend and next week.

First up is Saturday, May 2. 6-7 pm
Printmaking: Traditional and Contemporary Approaches
Palm Harbor Public Library
The exhibition runs through July 2


Second is Sunday, May 3. 2-5 pm
Chicago and Vicinity Riso Exhibition
Epiphany Center for the Arts
The exhibition runs through July 4


And next week, May 8. 6-10 pm
REALM
Curated by Chad Mize
Floridarama Gallery at the Factory
Exhibition runs through June 28
art

04/04/2026

We said goodbye to Kitty yesterday.
She simply had a way of appearing, just as she did in the fall of 2020, when she chose us. That was always her style: equal parts mystery and certainty, a little bit feral, a whole lot of love.

Kitty lived life on her own purr-suasive terms. She was an outdoor girl at heart, chasing sunbeams, supervising birds, and conducting important backyard patrols. But she was also deeply devoted to her indoor duties: curling into laps, claiming chests, and reminding us that the best place to be is exactly where the warmth is.

She had a way of weaving herself into our days so quietly and sometimes loudly that her absence is reflected in the silent tears running down our faces.

Kitty leaves behind what can only be described as a giant fur ball in our hearts that won’t be coughed up anytime soon.

We were lucky. Chosen. Claimed. Loved.

Goodnight, sweet Kitty. May your sunbeams always be warm, your naps always uninterrupted, and your world forever full of gentle places to land. You were, and always will be, absolutely purr-fect.

02/28/2026

Movement is inspiring. Movement centers body in such a fundamental way that the cover, the veil, the protection we put on our bodies becomes unnecessary.

It has been a dream to work on this garment for movement with understanding how it veils their body and how they what to shed this veil.

Images of them Performing “When I Think Of You I Feel…” from last night’s performance of HERE: In Our Bodies at

They have one more show tonight - which is sold out 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 so when they perform this show again, run to get those tickets!

01/28/2026

Dunedin Fine Arts Center opened their winter shows on January 17, 2026 to much fan fare. My work is part of one of the shows with 6 other exceptional artists - “Low Tide/ High Root” curated by and

“Low Tide/ High Root”
📍Dunedin Fine Arts Center
🗓️ January 16 - February 22
🕔 Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Participating artists:
Saumitra Chandratreya

Samo Davis + Petra Gurin .moss.girls




“Low Tide/ High Root” brings together seven Tampa Bay artists who share Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) backgrounds.

11/21/2025

The first time I was in the Gallery at Creative Pinellas was to see the Emerging Artist’s show in 2017. The gallery, which is breathtaking architecturally, housed an incredible show by Tampa Bay stalwarts like Kenny Jensen, Nathan Beard, Gloria Muñoz, and Jake Troyli, to name a few.

The next year, my work was included in an iteration of this same show, along with another group of Tampa Bay stars who are also friends - Daniel Barojas, Brandie Dziegiel, Reid Jenkins, and Tanea Johnson to name a few.

I have returned to the Gallery at Creative Pinellas to see the works of brilliant Tampa Bay Artists again and again and again.

So this day is exciting, as we celebrate the opening of Arts Annual 8 at the Gallery at Creative Pinellas with 73 artists showing their craft, intelligence, creativity, and mettle. I am delighted to have 4 pieces in the show along with so many dear friends and art world colleagues.

I am also sad to miss the opening tonight so I will be nursing my fomo. Please get a ticket to support Creative Pinellas. Please buy lots of art tonight and please hug all of my friends on my behalf.

04/10/2025

2 ways to see my work this weekend.

Art in the Garden Tour
Visit me at the Art In the Garden Tour hosted by Ticketed event. with proceeds going towards the neighborhood’s street tree canopy replenishment program. Link in the bio for tickets.

When: April 12, 11:00-3:00
📍Historic Old Northeast. 10 block tour.
Registration site to get a guidebook and wristband:
Poplar Avenue NE and 13th Avenue NE

St. Pete Second Saturday Art-walk
I will be in my studio (Studio 106) at the Please say hello if you are out and about Saturday evening.

When: April 12, 5:00-9:00
📍 Studio 106, ArtsXchange Campus
515, 22nd Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33705
(You can also type in my name in Apple Maps and
Google Maps to get directions to my studio)

03/31/2025

03/25/2025

Join me at the Circle Contemporary - The Arts Of Life for the opening of ‘What they said’ this Friday, March 28 - 5pm to 8pm.

📍2010 W Carroll Ave, Chicago IL 60612

Opening reception:
Friday March 28, 2025
5:00 – 8:00 pm
 
Hours with the guest curators:
May 2nd, 2025
6:00 – 8:00 pm

Image: Artwork by Ted Gram-Boarini (background) and James Schenck (foreground)

What they said is co-curated by Facility Chicago . Thank you & for including me in the show.

Looking forward to showing my work with these incredibly talented artists:
John W. Bateman – SHENEQUA – Saumitra Chandratreya – Joel Ebner– Dan Gamble – Ted Gram-Boarini – Ted Hamel – David Krueger – Lawrence M. – Tim Stone – James Schenck – Lisa Solar – Oly Trindl – Maria Vanik – Frank Vega – Jean Wilson

03/24/2025

Had an incredible time in St. Louis for the opening of अत्र at hunt - In gratitude of Jeff Hughes for curating me in this show with the incredible work of .priya .nanavati

Also had such a blast seeing St. Louis with Jeff and .f.reilly . Thank you for your generosity with time and knowledge.

Images:
1. picture of me with Window Clouds
2. Window Clouds, 2022, 30”x40”, Cyanotype and Embroidery on Sateen.
3. Cacophony, 2016, Single Channel Video
4. Q***r Revolution, 24”x48”, 2023, Cyanotype Collage on Archival Watercolor Paper.
5. From top to bottom: 26 To Harbor Drive, Analogous Movement, Grandview to Beach, 30”x22”, 2021, Silk Screen, Pattern Transfer, And Drawing on Archival Watercolor Paper.
6. Royal Poinciana Reflections, 40”x60”, 2022, Cyanotype on Sateen.