Xtrella

by Brent Galen Adkins

Brent Galen Adkins (they/them) is a Philadelphia-based artist whose work explores intimacy, presence, and connection. Grounded in emotional nuance, their practice captures fleeting gestures, quiet glances, and the subtle visual languages that shape how we relate to one another. Their current project centers on the richness and complexity of queer life. One part is a body of documentary photography investigating the liberatory power of queer nightlife—its role as both sanctuary and celebration. The other is a portrait series honoring the artists, organizers, and community members who cultivate and sustain these spaces. Together, the work offers a tender, layered record of queer joy, kinship, and resilience—affirming lives and narratives too often overlooked or misunderstood. Adkins holds a B.F.A. in Studio Art from Rowan University and has exhibited both nationally and internationally, including shows at Icebox Project Space, Practice Gallery, and Copenhagen Photo Festival.