One Night Only Show ‘S*x Work’ to Come to Denver

S*x Work is coming to Denver! S*x Work is an event hosted by Mello Artwork and in collaboration with a collective of sex workers. The collective believes that “visibility is power, and art is protest.” This event is proud to be completely community-funded, with sponsorships from small businesses, individual donors, and grassroots organizations.

So what is the S*x Work Gallery?

“S*x Work is more than just an event—It’s a living, breathing collaboration between artists, advocates, and community members who understand the power of visibility. This project brings together a curated gallery of visual art alongside a night of performances, including: drag, burlesque, pole, live music, and more. It’s a celebration, a protest, a reunion, and a reckoning—all held in the same space,” the website for the exhibition states.

“We’re centering the voices of people who have lived at the intersection of sexuality and labor, many of whom have never been invited into traditional art spaces. The gallery will feature visual artists and performers who engage with the expanded definition of sex work—from literal depictions of dancers and escorts to conceptual pieces about being sexualized in the workplace. Our artists are people who deeply understand the complexity of using the body as art, survival, and expression.”

This one-night-only show aims to redefine the public opinion of sex work by recognizing the ways sexualized labor exists across industries, outside of people’s assumptions of what sex work is. This event focuses on queer and BIPOC sex workers and aims to build a professional, affirming platform for sex-working artists to be seen, celebrated, and paid.

At its core, S*x Work sets out to expand the definition of sex work by challenging the stigmas, criminalization, and marginalization that people whose livelihood depends on sex work face daily. The collective also strives to expand the definition of sex work to “include anyone whose labor has required them to perform and be sexualized for profit or survival.  … We’re putting sex work in its full context—as art, as labor, as resilience.” Through visual art, live acts, and community celebration, S*x Work places a spotlight on the voices and bodies of those who’ve experienced the weight of being made a spectacle at work.

The collective hopes that “by expanding the definition of sex work, we not only validate the experiences of those in stigmatized professions, but also build stronger networks of safety, solidarity, and visibility—especially for queer and BIPOC communities who are most at risk.”

Around 30 artists will be included in the event, all of whom are either self-declared sex workers or individuals whose labor has required them to be sexualized for a profit. The evening festivities will include: a walkable art gallery, performances by drag artists, pole dancers, and musicians, a community resource booth offering harm reduction information from local organizations, and a raffle featuring freebies from local queer-owned businesses!

You do not need to be a sex worker to enjoy the exhibition; allies are welcome! If you choose to attend, the collective asks that you come with respect, awareness, and allyship. Security will be present to ensure that the event remains a safe space for everyone. The location and day of S*x Work are TBD, and the event is free to attend for those who are 18 and above—although donations are greatly appreciated. Keep watching the website for updates!

Photo courtesy of Sex Work Gallery