A bold and unapologetic drag-inspired character lives in my work. She embodies unashamed pride & fearless expression within her hyper-femininity. As a personal avatar, she boldly confronts the complexities and challenges I faced growing up in the politically conservative south.  My queens embody the tenacity and gumption it takes to navigate spaces as an out-and-proud queer person.

As a kid, I was told one day I’d be wearing a suit and tie as my day-to-day attire. This kickstarted a pang of doom in my stomach as my intuition knew my identity was much more nuanced than simply adhering to professional masculine norms. In my newest body of work, men in suits are appearing as opposing counterparts to my divas. These businessmen represent ideas of control and fear, but my paintings place them in precarious or private situations.  His hidden human desires are something that I can’t neglect, so I often paint him indulging in clandestine fantasies. Unlike the portrayal of my bold divas, his pursuits must remain private. 

My use of satire with masculinity and femininity is not frivolous. The contemporary issues we are currently facing within the United States are a misguided desire for control. Bans on Drag Queens and restrictions on gender transitions/care reflect societal discomfort with anything that challenges traditional hetero norms. My art advocates for openly communicating diverse expressions - free from concealment, shame and othering. My characters point to a broader conversation about the human experience, inviting viewers to embrace the diversity of human desires and foster a culture of authenticity and acceptance.

Solo Exhibitions:

“Fussy Fleur” Bim Bam Gallery, Paris, France. September 2022

“Kimberly Pepperoni’s Closet” Kates-Ferri Projects, NYC, New York. June 2022

“Who Is She?” Schlomer Haus Gallery. San Francisco, California. April 2022.


Group Exhibitions:

“Somebody” Hashimoto Contemporary. Los Angeles, California. September 2022

“Le Corps-Paysage” Bim Bam Gallery. Paris, France. August 2022

“Marmalade Visions” Soft Times Gallery. San Francisco, California. August 2022

“Strike Me a Pose” Galeria Fran Reus. Mallorca, Spain. December 2021.

Untitled. Art Fair, Eden Airlines Gallery. Miami Beach, Florida. December 2021.

“The [characters] featured in Kevin Sabo’s extensive collection of works are sassy, crude, and fantastical, seeming to occupy some place between frightening and friendly. Sabo’s characteristic style, an otherworldly blend of colours and textures, presents as a weird and slutty pop culture-driven alternative universe.


It's a refreshing and inviting world, and one that has landed Sabo at exhibitions across the United States, and abroad. Sabo describes his work as an examination of queer fantasy and gender expression and is as disarming as it is exciting. A practice in spontaneity, none of the work is planned; best described as a large sketch, the direction unfolds and crystallises as Sabo works. As the feminine divas stomp and strut their way across the canvas, with the braggadocious confidence of a 2000s icon, they serve as “gay fairy godmothers,” allowing Sabo to heal through artistic expression.

It's this unadulterated and pleasurable style that makes his work so iconic and fun, engaging the viewer in a sort of staring contest, the gay fairy godmothers seem to suavely exhale after a long drag on their cigs, before spitting out, “who ya looking at, huh?” It's a question that jolts the viewer, triggering introspection, granting freedom, and resonating worldwide.” -Metal Mag