Upcoming Exhibition

An art form as old as theatre itself, drag has become a mainstream institution of pop culture. When imagining drag—the pageantry, the camp, and the glamour—most typically envision the drag queen with her glittering gown and towering hair, parading as the quintessential commentary on the absurdity of gendered performance. The focus on feminine aesthetics in drag has long cemented the idea that only women are performing and dressing for the gaze of others.

[Enter the Drag King.] Existing as long as their feminine counterparts, the male impersonator has always delighted some audiences and confused others. What is there to “perform” about masculinity? How do you make performing like a man exciting and extravagant? Why do men perform the characterizations and roles that have been socially assigned to them? In a society that often considers masculinity the default and femininity a show to be commented on, drag kings use their work to express that all gender presentation is a strange and humorous performance; deserving of attention, parody, examination, and tribute.

Showmanship is powered by the Artisans Asylum Fiber Arts Shop and A2’s deep community focused altruism. Throb Zombie and Rusty Hammer are known for their killer looks, alluring stage presence, and their work to expand the drag community in Boston and beyond. Their craft in constructing the characters of Rusty Hammer and Throb Zombie cements the expression of Drag as belonging in the fine arts pantheon. Costuming, makeup, performances, and community create an exuberant tableau; bringing the viewer into the world of the Drag Artist.

Rusty Hammer is your classic mid-20th century leading man; suave and hammy, well-dressed in bespoke mens’ couture––both a tongue-in-cheek tribute and parody of classic masculine aesthetics. Throb Zombie creates impeccably detailed gender fluid monster characters that both horrify and arouse. Rusty entered the drag scene through participating in Kingdom, where he now serves as a mentor to new drag kings; Throb grew up on the stage and found empowerment embodying the grotesque. They both have multiple ongoing productions that push the form in narrative complexity and production values, and serve as cultivation platforms for queer folk to find power in expressing themselves. 

Rusty Hammer (@rustyhammerdrag) 

Throb Zombie (@throb.zombie) 

Artist-Lead Programming

Dates & Programming:

Opening Reception and Drag Performance

The exhibition opening reception is free with RSVP. (6-8pm)

The performance is a seperate ticketed event with a $20 cover. Drag show is immediately following the reception. (Doors 8:30pm performance 9pm)

Friday August 8/8/2025 

Monster Making With Throb Zombie

Saturday, August 30, Sept 6th 12 - 1:30pm EDT

Customize your Jacket for Drag

Sat, Oct 4, 2025, 12:00 PM

Artist Talks

TBD

Artisans Asylum Speaker Series


Artist Meet and Greet (Closing Weekend)

Sunday 10/12

3-6pm

Showmanship: Costuming Masculinity from Man to Monster

Community Exhibitions

Open to All Creative Practitioners

The Community Exhibition Program grows Artisans Asylum’s role in Boston’s dynamic arts community by inviting participation from local artists to showcase innovation and excellence in fabrication, craft, and aesthetics.

Driven by A2 Membership

Community Exhibitions showcase our homegrown talent and give opportunities to Artisans Asylum membership, to showcase their creative output in a white-box gallery setting located on the A2 campus.

Ideated and Juried by our elected Gallery Panel

Show themes are decided by the gallery panel and reflect Gallery A2’s mission to showcase innovation and excellence in fabrication, craft, and aesthetics. Themes are open to interpretation, inviting participation from all modalities practiced at Artisan’s Asylum, including work that falls outside of traditional fine art gallery objects. Work will be selected from open-call submission by the gallery panel. At least 60% of the work selected should be created by A2 members, with the remainder by outside artists.

Visiting Artist in Residence Exhibitions

Gallery A2’s Visiting Artist in Residence program spotlights internationally acclaimed local artists, manifesting the potential of Artisans Asylum as a nucleus of innovation and excellence in fabrication, craft, and aesthetics. The program encompasses three components –– a bespoke exhibition, a two-month artist residency, and expansive programming –– built around the artist’s skills as both maker and educator.

The Exhibition will showcase the VAIRs’ excellence in their respective fields. Galley A2 capitalizes on the full breadth of A2’s world class facilities to create outstanding exhibition elements and experiences tailored to the Artist’s unique vision. 

The Residency will foster community and collaboration between visiting artists, A2’s membership, and the greater Boston community. Through an exchange of skills and knowledge between the A2’s membership and the VAIR, the residency will support the unlimited creative potential of A2’s exceptional facilities. 

The Programming will cultivate connections between traditional gallery viewing and hands-on educational experiences within the VAIR’s working modalities. Gallery A2 will facilitate events utilizing Artisans Asylum’s abundance of personal and technical resources. Examples might include classes, workshops, studio working demonstrations, short form technical workshops, directed open studio sessions, or special events associated with the exhibition or residency.

Gallery A2’s Visiting Artist in Residence program will facilitate appreciation of excellence in fabrication, craft, and aesthetics via . hands-on educational experiences for A2’s membership and the Boston community within the VAIR’s working modalities. Connecting the experience between traditional gallery viewing and access to artist-taught practical programming, accessible to everyone, in fully outfitted shops.

Gallery A2 fosters connections between Artisans Asylum and the Greater Boston Arts community through gallery exhibitions and holistic programming. The gallery showcases innovation and excellence in fabrication, craft, and aesthetics; manifesting the potential of A2 with expansive programming built around the artist’s skills as a maker and educator. Gallery A2 exhibits creative practitioners whose work and studio practices fall within Artisans’ maker ecosystem. 

Experience our
Creative Community