Relationship #31, from the "Relationship" series (2008-2013)

Maker Zackary Drucker and Rhys Ernst (American, b. 1983 and 1982, respectively)

Date2010

MediumChromogenic development print

Dimensionsoverall: 20 in x 13 5/16 in

Credit LineMuseum purchase

Object number2017:355

About the ArtistThe series Relationship can be approached in several ways. First, it is a documentation of the romantic relationship between artists Zackary Drucker and Rhys Ernst, which lasted from 2008 to 2014. The pair’s photographs were not originally intended for exhibition or publication; they are snapshots of their daily routine and mementos of their life as a couple. Relationship also documents the numerous physical changes that occurred as the couple simultaneously realigned from one gender to another. Drucker is a trans woman and Ernst a trans man. In their photographs, the artists capture the successive stages of their respective processes of gender realignment. Relationship therefore assumes a third level of meaning, since it also refers to the relationship of an individual with their body.

Zackary Drucker creates photography, video, and performance art. Her work has been featured in exhibitions at MoMA PS1 New York (2012), San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (2013), Hammer Museum, Los Angeles (2007, 2012), Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (2014), and the Baltimore Museum of Art (2020), among others. Her work is represented by Luis de Jesus Los Angeles.

Rhys Ernst is a filmmaker and artist who has won two Special Recognition GLAAD awards, along with awards at Outfest, Oslo Fusion, Mezipatra Film Festival, and others. His debut feature film ADAM premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival as an official selection and was nominated for a 2020 GLAAD award. His work has been featured at the Walker Museum, Minneapolis (2019) and the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles (2012), among others. He is on the Board of Directors of Film Independent.

Drucker and Ernst were Supervising Producers on the Emmy nominated docuseries This is Me, as well as Producers and Directors on Golden Globe and Emmy-winning series Transparent.