Del LaGrace Volcano: Defying Labels, Creating Queer Resistance Art

Photographer Del LaGrace Volcano, recognized for their provocative depictions of LGBTQ+ communities and sexual desire, has lived in the Swedish city of Örebro for the past two decades. This setting contrasts sharply with their earlier life in London, marked by squats and fetish parties.

Volcano, who is intersex and identifies as a 'hermaphrodyke,' recalls facing a world unprepared for their identity, with past media coverage often sneering. Despite achieving recognition for series like Queer Dyke Cruising, Volcano feels their work, particularly its financial validation, has been overlooked.

After experiencing a significant personal crisis at age 65, Volcano has found renewed purpose. They are preparing for a major exhibition across two UK venues in summer 2026, including Auto Italia in London and the Edinburgh Art Festival.

Volcano's artistic drive stems from a childhood where they often felt unseen, growing up between contrasting households in California and Oklahoma. Their work is now focused on building a Queer Archive of Resistance, with a long-term vision of establishing a compound in Sweden for queer individuals to research and connect.

Having previously had an active sex life, Volcano currently desires romance but finds it challenging to find someone who measures up to their past partner, Matilda Wurm. Their ambition to write a memoir is tempered by the need for certain individuals to pass away or for statutes of limitations to expire.