Rekindle gay love & longing with these 6 Richard Everett Fox paintings

Honoring Love and Identity: Artist Richard Everett Fox joins the celebration of 10 years since Obergefell v Hodges at Oli Gallery, in Guerneville, California

Paying homage to the month of Pride, Oli Gallery in Guerneville, California, has partnered with Equality Vines — the world's first cause wine portfolio, which was cofounded by Jim Obergerfell — for a series of events, which includes a moving exhibition of the works of Richard Everett Fox beginning June 7.

A decade ago, the Supreme Court handed down a decision that reshaped the understanding of love, dignity, and equality: Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage and affirmed what millions had always known, that love is love, and it deserves recognition under the law.

To honor the 10th anniversary of this historic decision, Oli Gallery is highlighting the Austin-based artist. The show is both a personal and political tribute — one that uses the power of figurative art to illuminate queer identity, love, and self-acceptance.

A Personal Lens Reflecting Universal Milestones

Fox’s work, renowned for stunning realism and emotional depth, draws from lives shaped by isolation, resilience, and self-discovery. Fox paints the male form imbued with classical sensitivity and contemporary urgency. The subjects, men caught in quiet moments, reveal volumes about vulnerability, longing, and the search for self in an sometimes unwelcome world.

Born and raised in the town of rural Clovis, New Mexico, Fox visually navigates the edge of the Texas Panhandle, where the open skies reflect the solitude of the queer heart. Fox has commented, “The vastness and isolation of a small town began my artistic journey...that journey eventually led me to study architecture at Texas Tech and then pursue work in Studio Art and Art History at the University of Texas, Austin…where I have found my heart and artistic home."

During his early years restoring art for the Kress Collection in El Paso, Fox discovered the Old Masters. His latest paintings embody that traditional spirit, steeped in technical mastery, and driven by a modern urgency: to see, to reflect, and to affirm queer lives resonating at a level never seen before.

​Art as Witness, Art as Healing

Fox’s paintings commemorate not just a legal milestone but cultural milestones. Obergefell v. Hodges validated countless queer lives and loves, many of which had long been hidden, denied, or erased. Fox’s intimate, evocative portrayals of men, offer a rare look into the quiet emotional spaces where identity is forged.

Fox states, “My newest works reveal a lifelong fascination with the male human form, where I delve deeply into the private emotional lives of men—whether tender, touching, or tragic… allowing the viewer a look into the nuanced quest for personal and sexual identity in a hostile modern world.”

Even today, queer rights face challenges. That’s why celebrating this anniversary through art is essential. It serves as a reminder that legal victories must be matched by cultural empathy and visibility.

​Guerneville, California: A Place of Pride and Reflection

Fox’s new works will be launching in Guerneville, a longtime haven for LGBTQ+ travelers and creatives. Known for its progressive spirit and vibrant art scene, the town offers a safe and celebratory space for queer expression. Oli Gallery, with its commitment to bold, socially conscious work, epitomizes the ideal venue to spotlight Fox’s unprecedented and deeply personal vision.

In a moment where the cultural conversation around gender, sexuality, and representation constantly evolves, Richard Everett Fox's s paintings do more than mark time — they tell stories. Stories of becoming, of remembering, of loving, and of living freely in full view. “Because sometimes, the most powerful protest is simply to be seen," said Fox.

The 10th Anniversary Exhibition of Obergefell v. Hodges

Featuring the work of Richard Everett Fox, which opened June 7, 2025 in Oli Gallery, Guerneville, California. To see more of Richard’s art please visit richardfoxart.com and oligallery.com.