Pretty Gay II: Mitch in Wonderland — Queer Photography by koitz
One Subject. 12 Locations. Southern California.
Pretty Gay II: Mitch in Wonderland is a collectible photography book by koitz, focusing entirely on Mitch, whom koitz photographed over a period of years in 12 different locations throughout Southern California.
Where Pretty Gay I brings together twelve different sitters in New York City, Pretty Gay II takes a more sustained and personal approach. By returning to the same subject across different places and moments, koitz creates an intimate photographic portrait that unfolds over time.
Each location becomes a new chapter — a different landscape, atmosphere, and setting through which Mitch is photographed. Together, the images explore masculinity, sexuality, identity, fashion, intimacy, place, and personal expression.
Mitch in Wonderland
At the center of Pretty Gay II is Mitch.
Photographed repeatedly by koitz across Southern California, Mitch becomes both subject and collaborator in an evolving photographic relationship. The series is not simply a collection of portraits; it is a visual journey shaped by time, place, familiarity, and the changing relationship between photographer and subject.
The twelve locations provide a constantly shifting backdrop. Beaches, streets, interiors, landscapes, and other Southern California environments become part of the portrait, creating a dialogue between body, identity, sexuality, and place.
The result is an intimate study of one man seen through koitz’s distinctive approach to queer portrait photography.
Southern California Queer Photography
Pretty Gay II: Mitch in Wonderland is rooted in Southern California photography, using location as an essential part of the story.
Across twelve different settings, koitz explores how a person can appear differently depending on the environment surrounding them. Mitch becomes a recurring presence within a changing visual landscape, allowing the photographs to move between portraiture, fashion, documentary observation, and personal encounter.
The book forms part of koitz’s broader practice of photographing queer life, LGBTQ+ culture, sexuality, and intimate relationships between photographer and subject.
Koitz is also known for his queer photography of Fire Island, where his photographs document the people, atmosphere, fashion, sexuality, and distinctive LGBTQ+ culture of the island. Pretty Gay II brings that same interest in queer identity and place to Southern California, but through the sustained study of one individual.
The Pretty Gay II Postcard Book
Pretty Gay II: Mitch in Wonderland is published as a 5 × 7-inch postcard book containing 12 different postcards.
Each postcard represents a different photographic moment and location from Mitch’s journey through Southern California.
The compact format gives the work a tactile and collectible quality. The photographs can be experienced together as a complete series or individually as twelve photographic objects.
12 postcards. 12 locations. One subject. One evolving photographic relationship.
From Fire Island to Southern California
Pretty Gay II: Mitch in Wonderland is part of koitz’s larger photographic exploration of queer people and places.
His work as a queer and gay photographer includes photographs of Fire Island LGBTQ+ life, New York queer portraiture, and Southern California. Across these bodies of work, koitz returns to recurring themes of sexuality, masculinity, fashion, intimacy, identity, and personal expression.
For collectors searching for queer photography, Fire Island photography, gay photography, male portraiture, and LGBTQ+ art, Pretty Gay II offers a different perspective within koitz’s photographic practice — one centered on a single subject and the passage of time.
Collect Pretty Gay II: Mitch in Wonderland
For collectors of queer portrait photography, gay male photography, LGBTQ+ art, Southern California photography, contemporary portraiture, and artist-made photography books, Pretty Gay II: Mitch in Wonderland offers an intimate and highly personal photographic study.
The book can also be viewed alongside Pretty Gay I as a companion publication.
Pretty Gay I brings together 12 different sitters photographed in New York City. Pretty Gay II follows one sitter, Mitch, across 12 locations in Southern California.
Together, the two Pretty Gay postcard books present contrasting approaches to queer portraiture — one built around variety and encounter, the other around continuity, place, and an evolving relationship between photographer and subject.
Edition Details
Title: Pretty Gay II: Mitch in Wonderland
Artist / Photographer: koitz
Subject: Mitch
Locations: 12 locations throughout Southern California
Format: Postcard book
Size: 5 × 7 inches
Contents: 12 different postcards
Category: Queer photography · Gay male portraiture · LGBTQ+ art · Artist publication · Southern California photography
About koitz
koitz is a queer photographer whose work explores LGBTQ+ life, sexuality, masculinity, fashion, portraiture, intimacy, and identity through an ongoing engagement with people and places.
His photographs include intimate portraits of queer communities and individuals in Fire Island, New York City, and Southern California. Whether photographing a larger queer community or returning to a single subject over time, koitz’s work is grounded in personal encounters and the relationship between photographer, subject, and place.
His photography books create tactile records of these encounters, combining contemporary queer photography with the intimacy of artist-made publications.
For galleries, collectors, and readers interested in queer photography, gay photography, LGBTQ+ art, portrait photography, and contemporary artist books, koitz’s publications offer a distinctive and personal perspective on queer culture.
Discover Pretty Gay II: Mitch in Wonderland and explore 12 intimate portraits of Mitch photographed across Southern California by koitz.