
work hard
be kind
create change
Nelson Santos produces exhibitions, publications, artist projects, and public programs. Over 20 years of experience in the arts, advocacy, and non-profit sector — leading the vision of non-profit art organizations with LGBTQ, HIV/AIDS and social justice missions — including Visual AIDS and the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art. He collaborates with artists, curators, activists, writers, and community partners to produce diverse programs that bring people together and inspire change.
Santos is currently the Academic Advisory for the MFA Fine Arts department at the School of Visual Arts (SVA), and has taught at Pratt Institution, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College, Indiana University Northwest, and DePaul University.
EXHIBITIONS

Y'all Better Quiet Down, 2019, Leslie-Lohman Museum and BGSQD, NY. Curators: Nelson Santos and Jeanne Vaccaro.

Art After Stonewall: 1969-1989, 2019, Leslie-Lohman Museum, NY. Curators: Jonathan Weinberg, Tyler Cann, and Drew Sawyer.

Scott Hunt: Truth Goes Up in Vapors, 2019, Spring Break, NY. Curator: Nelson Santos

ON OUR BACKS: The Revolutionary Art Of Queer Sex Work, 2019, Leslie-Lohman Museum, NY. Curator: Alexis Heller

ON OUR BACKS curator Alexis Heller with Leslie-Lohman Museum Interim Director of Curatorial Programs, Nelson Santos

VOICE = SURVIVAL, 2017, The 8th Floor, NY. Curators: Claudia Maria Carrera and Adrian Geraldo Saldaña

Listening station at VOICE = SURVIVAL

Everyday, 2016, La MaMa Galleria, NY. Curators Jean Carlomusto, Alexandra Juhasz, and Hugh Ryan

Everyday artist Joyce McDonald

Pulse NY, 2016. Exhibition design: Nelson Santos

Party Out Of Bounds: Nightlife As Activism Since 1980, 2015, La MaMa Galleria, NY. Curated by Emily Colucci and Osman Can Yerebakan

Party Out of Bounds artist Nayland Blake, 2015

Pulse Miami, 2015, FL. Exhibition design: Nelson Santos

COLOR DOT CONNECT: Curtis Carman and John Hanning, 2014, Mixed Greens, NY. Curated by Nelson Santos

Ephemera As Evidence, 204, La MaMa Galleria, NY. Curators: Joshua Lubin-Levy and Ricardo Montez

Ephemera As Evidence performance by Peter Cramer and Jack Waters

NOT OVER, 2013, La MaMa Galleria, NY. Curators: Kris Nuzzi and Sur Rodney (Sur)

NOT OVER artists Charles Ryan Long and Camilo Godoy

Undetectable, 2012, La MaMa Galleria. Curators: Nathan Lee and Rachel Cook

Mixed Messages, 2011, La MaMa Galleria, NY. Curator: John Chaich

Mixed Messages (detail: David Wojnarowicz and Nightsweats & T-cells)

You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real): The Work of Robert Blanchon, 2010, NYU Fales Library, NY. Curators: Sasha Archibald and Tania Duvergne, 2010

To Believe, 2010, La MaMa Galleria, NY. Curator: Jeffrey Walkowiak

Tainted Love, 2009, La MaMa Galleria, NY. Curators: Steven Lam and Virginia Solomon

Tainted Love, fierce pussy installation, 2009

SIDE X SIDE, 2008, La MaMa Galleria, NY. Curator: Dean Daderko

Stephen Andrews + Robert Blanchon, 2006, Miami Dade Art Gallery, FL. Curator: Nelson Santos

Between Ten, 2006, Spin Gallery, Toronto. Curator: Nelson Santos

Sight of Construction, 2001, The LGBT Center, NY. Curators: Michael Gonzalez & Nelson Santos
Exhibitions
Worked with guest curators to produce LGBTQ and activist based exhibitions including: Art After Stonewall 1969-1989, On Our Backs: The Revolutionary Art of Queer Sex Work, and Other Points of View for the Leslie-Lohman Museum; and VOICE=SURVIVAL, Everyday, Persons of Interest, Party Out of Bounds: Nightlife As Activism, Ephemera As Evidence, NOT OVER, House In Vermont, Not only this but "‘New language beckons us’, Undetectable, Mixed Messages, To Believe, Tainted Love, and Side by Side for Visual AIDS.
Curated: Y’all Better Quiet Down, Leslie-Lohman Museum and BGSQD, Scott Hunt: Truth Goes Up In Vapors, SpringBreak, NY; Robert Blanchon + Stephen Andrews, Miami Dade Art Gallery, FL; Between Ten, Spin Gallery, Toronto; Video Positive, The Bronx Museum of Art, NY; Sight of Construction, The LGBT Center, NY; and Pulse Art Miami and NY.
PUBLICATIONS

DUETS: Kia Labeija & Julie Tolentino

DUETS: Jerome Caja – Nayland Blake & Justin Vivian Bond

Hugh Steers: The Complete Paintings

DUETS: Annie Sprinkle & Ben Cuevas

DUETS: Nicolas Moufarrege

Robert Blanchon (monograph)

DUETS: Chloe Dzubilo

DUETS: Stephen Andrews & Gregg Bordowitz

Exhibitions Catalogues

NOT OVER: 25 Years of Visual AIDS
Publications
Conceived the ongoing series DUETS. Pairing artists, writers, and activists, in conversation about their creative process, personal histories and contemporary social practices; the series include intimate discussions between Kia LaBeija & Julie Tolentino (2018), Annie Sprinkle & Ben Cuevas (2016), Stephen Andrews & Gregg Bordowitz (2014), and tributes to artists Chloe Dzubilo (2014), Nicolas Moufarrege (2016), and Jerome Caja (2018).
Published the monographs of artists who died of AIDS-related complications, including Hugh Steers: The Complete Paintings (2015), and Robert Blanchon (2006), to increase scholarship and preserve a legacy that might otherwise be lost.
Produced exhibition catalogues and NOT OVER an illustrated timeline of Visual AIDS history. Publications available here.
ARTIST PROJECTS

fierce pussy, For the Record, 2013, ink on newsprint

Nayland Blake, Love Happend Here, 2007, printed sticker

fierce pussy, if he/she/they were alive today, 2013, printed stickers

I want to remember, Jessica Whitbread, 2016, printed tote bag

Shan Kelley, Let's Hold Each Other Until It's All Over, 2015, printed tote bag

Kay Rosen, AIDS ON GOING GOING ON, 2013, printed tote bag

Noah Lyons, Safe Sex Rules, 2008, printed buttons

Kay Rosen, NOT EVER OVER, 2013, printed buttons

NOT OVER, AK Burns, Joe De Hoyos, Avram Finkelstein, John Chaich (clockwise from top left), 2011, printed buttons

Play Smart, 2010, Inked Kenny, Aaron Cobbett, Slava Mogutin, Greg Mitchell (clockwise top left), design by John Chaich

Play Smart, 2011, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Luna Luis Ortiz, Michael Harwood, Michael Alago (clockwise top left), design by John Chaich

Michael Harwood, Play Smart, 2011, printed trading card packed with condoms and lube

Chris Johanson, Safe Is Sexy, 2005, print on paper

Curtis Carman, Be Flawless, 2006, print on paper

William Powhida, Safe Sex Rules!, 2008, print on paper

Wu Tsang, Conception (media headlines from 1981), 2009, ten printed cards

J. Morrison, AIDS IS NOT OVER, 2009, printed tote bag

Daryl Vocat, AIDS Is..., 2012, printed tote bag

Brian Kenny, Art AIDS Action, 2014, printed tote bag

Deborah Grant, Rock Hudson Meets the Guy with the Crown of Thorns, 2005, print on paper

Erik Hanson, Where Did The Love Go, 2007, print on paper

Derek Jackson, Be good to yourself, 2005, print on paper

Michael Mitchell, Rubbers Are Fun, 2008, printed balloons packed with condoms

Play Smart, 2014/2015, Jayson Keeling, Benjamin Fredrickson, Rebecca Levi, Charles Long, Ben Cuevas, Carmine Santaniello (clockwise top left), design by John Chaich

Play Smart, 2012, Amos Mac, Richard Renaldi, Ivan Monforte, Christopher Schulz, design by John Chaich

Play Smart, 2016, Jessica Whitbread, Kia Labeija, Sue Schaffner, Alice O'Malley, Beverly Bland Boydston III
Artist Projects
Commissioned and produced artist designed AIDS Awareness Projects for Visual AIDS.
Working collaboratively with artist on innovate sexual health and AIDS awareness campaigns that connect artists with social issues, these printed editions include posters, stickers, buttons, tote bags and safer sex kits. Campaigns such as Safe Sex Rules, and Play Smart address harm reductions, HIV criminalization, treatment, prevention, and promote conversation around HIV/AIDS.
Other projects such as fierce pussy’s For The Record mourns the loss of friends, family, and lovers; Wu Tsang’s Conception views the inception of AIDS through the media; while Nayland Blake’s Love Happened Here reminds us to not give up and “to keep making love visible and public.”
Artists and designers include Mike Alago, Tania Anderson, Nayland Blake, Beverly Bland Boydston III, A.K. Burns, John Chaich, Curtis Carman, Aaron Cobbett, Ben Cuevas, Joe De Hoyos, Chloe Dzubilo & T De Long, Neil Farber, fierce pussy, Avram Finkelstein, Benjamin Fredrickson, Jean Foos, Deborah Grant, Erik Hanson, Mike Harwood, Kate Huh, Jayson Keeling, inkedKenny, Derek Jackson, Chris Johanson, Shan Kelley, Brian Kenny, Kayrock, Kia Labeija, Lou Laurita, Nancer LeMoins, Rebecca Levi, Noah Lyons, Amos Mac, Greg Mitchell, Michael Mitchell, Iván Monforte, J. Morrison, Slava Mogutin, Carrie Moyer, Alice O’Malley, Luna Luis Ortiz, Maria Piñeres, Amy Jean Porter, William Powhida, Silvia Prada, Richard Renaldi, Hunter Reynolds, L.J. Roberts, Kay Rosen, Carmine Santaniello, Sue Schaffner, Christopher Schulz, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Ginger Brooks Takahashi, Wu Tsang, Nathan Vincent, Daryl Vocat, and Jessica Whitbread. View additional artists projects for Visual AIDS here.
PUBLIC PROGRAMS

LOVE POSITIVE WOMEN Valentine Making Workshop, Visual AIDS, Dieu Donné and Fire Island Artist Residency, 2017

LOVE POSITIVE WOMEN Valentine Making Workshop with Jennifer Morton and Fred Weston, 2015

LOVE POSITIVE WOMEN presentation with Joyce McDonald and Kia Labeija, 2016

ALTERNATE ENDINGS, SVA, 2014

ALTERNATE ENDINGS, RADICAL BEGINNINGS, 2017

ALTERNATE ENDINGS panels with Alex Fialho, Tom Kalin and Lyle Ashton Harris, Studio Museum, , 2014

VA/RU International Curatorial Residents: Vladimir Cajkovac, Angela Bailey, Aimar Arriola, Eugenio Echeverría and Ajamu.

Kay Rosen AIDS ON GOING GOING ON projected on the Guggenheim Museum as part of RADIANT PRESENCE, 2015
(re)Presenting AIDS: Culture and Accountability panel for Visual AIDS, CUNY, 2013

Kay Rosen AIDS ON GOING GOING ON projected on the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of RADIANT PRESENCE, 2015

Life Chances: HIV Criminalization and Trans Politics with Laverne Cox, Sean Strub, Dean Spade, Che Gossett, and Mitchyll Mora, 2013

Sunscreen Test Boulevard In The Sand performance by Jack Waters & Peter Cramer, for FIAR and Visual AIDS, 2015

AGING FIERCELY WHILE TRANS with Kate Bornstein, Miss Major, and Jay Toole, 2015

WOMEN, ART, AIDS AND ACTIVISM: HERE THEN, HERE NOW with L.J. Roberts, Joy Episalla, Kia Labeija, Jessica Whitbread, Egyptt Labeija, Sue Schaffner and Carrie Moyer, Brooklyn Museum, 2016

WOMEN, ART, AIDS AND ACTIVISM: HERE THEN, HERE NOW with Jessica Whitbread and Egyptt Labeija, Brooklyn Museum, 2016

What Is Undetectable? with Undetectable Flash Collective led by Avram Finkelstein, Ideas City Fest, New Museum, Roosevelt Park, 2015

PERSONS OF INTEREST: SELF TAUGHT VISIONARIES with Alex Fialho and Joyce McDonald, BGSQD, 2016

Hugh Steers book launch with Cynthia Carr and Carl George, New York Public Library, 2015

DUETS: Nicolas Mourfarrege book launch with LJ Roberts and Sur Rodney (Sur), NYABF, MoMA PS1

PARTY PICKS and LOVE STORIES with Ted Kerr, Bryn Kelly, Carrie Yamaoka, Joy Episalla, David Deitcher, Jack Waters, and Laurie Simmons, Salon 94, 2013

What Is Undetectable? Ideas City Fest, New Museum, Roosevelt Park, 2015
TIME IS NOT A LINE, The New School, 2013
Play Smart Together with Nelson Santos, Jayson Keeling, Benjamin Fredrickson, and Richard Renaldi, Rush Art, 2014

99 Objects: Rafael Sánchez on Untitled by Mark Morrisroe with Alex Fialho, Whitney Museum of American Art, 2015

ACT NOW: Perspectives on Contemporary Performance and HIV/AIDS with Hunter Reynolds, Julie Tolentino, Justin Vivian Bond, and Benjamin Shepard, New Museum, 2013
Howard Cruse and Nayland Blake: Underground Comics, Politics & Queer Art, Studio 153, 2017

LIVING POSITIVE & LONG-TERM SURVIVING: An Artist Perspective with Marguerite Van Cook, Hunter Reynolds, Patrick Webb, Perry Halkitis and Joyce McDonald, The LGBT Center, 2015

METAPHORS & THEIR DISTEMPER: An Evening of Poetry & Prose, Whitney Museum of American Art, 2015

Last Address Tribute Walk with Tyler Matthew Oyer, Bette Gordon, Alex Fialho, Agosto Machado, Nelson Santos, Casey Spooner, Mary Lou Harris and Eloise Harris, West Village, NYC, 2017

Queer Icons at Pride March with Leslie-Lohman Museum, 2019
Public Programs
Presented public art programs, film screenings, panel discussions, workshops, and performances, that address the ongoing AIDS crisis, and the underlying issues that contribute to the pandemic, such as poverty, homophobia, stigma and racism. Launched new programs series including:
LOVE POSITIVE WOMEN workshops teachs women living with HIV and artists how to create handmade paper and turn them into personal valentines that are then distributed to HIV-positive women around the world as an act of love, caring and empowerment.
ALTERNATE ENDINGS film series commissions new work by artists, filmmakers and collectives that reflect on the ongoing HIV/AIDS pandemic through diverse stories and narratives. Film and video work have been presented in over 120 international venues, and presented annually for World AIDS Day / Day With(out) Art.
INTERNATIONAL CURATORIAL RESIDENCY for CULTURAL RESEARCH on HIV, in collaboration with Visual AIDS and Residency Unlimited, invites curators and scholars to research the intersections of visual art, social justice and HIV/AIDS. Residents include participates from Croatia, Australia, Mexico, Basque Country and the United Kingdom.
5th Annual Last Address Tribute Walk - Nelson Santos Tribute to Barton Lidicé Beneš
Interviews and Contributions
Pride Collection: Queer Storytellers, curated for 1st Dibs, June 1, 2021
WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT AIDS COULD FILL A MUSEUM: Curatorial ethics and the ongoing epidemic in the 21st Century, On Curating, Issue 42 / August 2019
Unconditional Love, Visual AIDS web gallery, November 2017
Reflecting on AIDS in New York City: Jenny Holzer in Collaboration with Surface, Surface, October 2016
Love Happened Here: Art, Archives and a Living History: A Conversation between Amy Sadao, Nelson Santos and Theodore Kerr, Art AIDS America, University of Washington Press, 2015
Interview with Mark Addison Smith, YEARS YET YESTERDAY, Artist Book, 2014
The Weight of Sweat and Tears, Visual AIDS, 2012
Michael Harwood Wants You on His Kitchen Table, The Archive, Leslie-Lohman Museum, 2009
Michael Muller: Naked Storytelling, The Archive, Leslie-Lohman Museum, 2008
Jeanine Oleson Just Might Believe in Bigfoot…, The Archive, Leslie-Lohman Museum, 2007
Talks & Panels
Virtual Insights: Objects of Desire, a conversation with Brian Wallis, Joel Smith, and Nelson Santos, American Folk Art Museum, February 9, 2021
Poems, Playlists, Recipes, and Rituals, Queer|Art, January 28, 2021
HIV/AIDS Advocacy and the Arts: Then and Now, Zimmerli Art Museum, December 4, 2020
Activating the Archive Project, NYU Fales Library & Special Collections, NY, Nov. 8, 2018
ART & AIDS: The Influence of Art in the AIDS Epidemic, Leslie-Lohman Museum, NY, Dec. 7, 2017
FOUND: Imaginative Alliances, Danspace Project, St. Marks Church, NY, November 19, 2016
Queering Institutions: Collecting, Preserving, and Presenting, Fashion Institute of Technology, NY, November 16, 2016
Re/Presenting HIV/AIDS, Belk Visual Arts Center, Davidson College, NC, Sept. 3, 2014
Why We Fight, New York Public Library, NY, February 5, 2014
(re)Presenting AIDS: Culture and Accountability, CUNY Graduate Center, NY, Aug 20, 2013
You Are Cordially Invited: The Art and Influence of Robert Blanchon, Fales Library & Special Collections, NY, Jan. 26, 2010
Thank you
Thank you to everyone I had the pleasure of working with over the years especially Amy Sadao, Theodore Kerr, Esther McGowan, Alex Fialho, and Kyle Croft at Visual AIDS; and the exhibition and collections team at Leslie-Lohman Museum: Branden Wallace, Noam Parness, Angela Hallinan, Daniel Sander, Kim Hanson and director Gonzalo Casals.
A special thanks to all the artists, activists, curators, writers, designers, and cultural workers I had the honor of collaborating with.
Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean. - Ryunosuke Satoro