The Work

SKIN, and Under. Evolving Young Machos, or Not.
Published by Artfineline, 2025

Now released, SKIN, and Under is a bold 252-page monograph presenting over 191 photographs by visual artist Igor Mattio.

Meticulously curated, the book unveils Mattio’s singular ability to capture moments of raw emotional exposure and layered human complexity. His subjects—young adults suspended in quiet intensity—radiate a silent yearning: to be seen, understood, and, perhaps, embraced.

SKIN, and Under is a penetrating exploration of contemporary masculinity, tracing the fragile boundaries between toughness and vulnerability, surface and depth. Nudity here is neither performative nor provocative, but instinctive—a quiet, sensual presence rooted in naturalism and unguarded truth.

At a time when political tensions and cultural backlash threaten to silence or erase LGBTQ+ expression, this work stands as a quiet act of resistance—a celebration of authenticity and the right to be visible. Through intimate, unfiltered imagery, Mattio gives form to a generation that refuses to be defined by inherited codes of shame or silence.

This is masculinity reimagined—not as armor, but as honesty. Not as dominance, but as depth. SKIN, and Under doesn’t just challenge stereotypes—it dissolves them, revealing strength in softness and power in presence. Each image becomes a gesture of empathy, a call for connection, and an affirmation of queer visibility as an essential part of our shared humanity.