Renegades

In the 1990s, queer youth, social outsiders, and artists flocked to San Francisco to experiment with art, style, identity, and gender. Affordable rents paved the way for queer bars, clubs, tattoo stores, galleries, cafes, bookstores, and women-owned businesses. A new wave of feminism was open to exploring gender identities and butch/femme culture was at a peak. The Mission District became the center of this scene, which was characterized by a strong sense of community. Chloe Sherman was both a member of this community and its passionate chronicler. Her documentary photographic work on 35mm film captures the vibrancy, tenderness, individuality, and resilience within this subculture derided by mainstream society. Her first monograph captures the rebellious spirit of the era and offers an undisguised portrait of a forward-looking era.