Meet the Anonymous Artists Behind the Sexy Art You're Double-Tapping on Instagram

Anonymity helps erotic artists go deeper, but censorship often halts their success

- By Chloe Olewitz. Photo by Kristen Liu-Wong

It’s all in the scroll: From shocking line drawings to delicate watercolors and full-frontal nudity to suggestive sensuality, erotic art is ubiquitous on Instagram. There’s something for everyone, but much of the art shares a common thread: Its creator is anonymous.

Art historian Amalia Russiello says anonymity has served to protect artists from harsh repercussions throughout history. Artists in all eras have suffered physical violence, imprisonment or ostracism for crossing accepted social boundaries. “[Punishments] didn’t just depend on the historical period, but also on the country and political situation,” says Russiello, who also creates erotic art. Many artists still use anonymity to protect themselves, working under pseudonyms or invented identities. But even for artists who are safe from political persecution, anonymity has other benefits. Some artists use anonymity or pseudonyms to separate their professional reputations from their more risqué explorations. Russiello herself creates erotic art under the moniker Madame Dabi. “When one chooses to eliminate his or her name by choice, an enigma is created,” Russiello says. “The illustration is charged with mystery, giving the observer’s imagination the task of explaining the message independently of the image of the artist.”