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AEDBruce of Los Angeles (Bruce Bellas) (American, 1909-1974)
About Seller
1155 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02909
United States
Vallot Auctioneers was founded in 2003 as a fine art specialty auction house in Tribeca, and recognized as one of the first fine art specialty auction galleries in Manhattan. Now based in Providence, RI, the auction house continues the excellence in focusing on bringing fresh quality lots to the mar...Read more
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About Auction
LiveJun 18, 2026
Our AFTER DARK/SUMMER auction features fine art that celebrates the beauty of the male form across a variety of genres and mediums, from late 19th-Century depictions of affectionate men, to daring new approaches to gender and sexuality in contemporary art. Our latest catalog showcases exceptional works from gay trailblazers such as Paul Cadmus, Wilhelm von Gloeden, René Bolliger, Sam Steward, and many more. Vallots Auctioneers info@vallots.com
View Full Catalog (125)
- Lot Description
Robert Fedell.
Gelatin silver print.
Photographer’s stamp on the verso; Model name annotated in pencil on the verso.
8 x 10 in (20.3 x 25.4 cm).
Notes:
Bruce Bellas, better known by his alias Bruce of Los Angeles, was born in rural Nebraska in 1909. In the late 1940s, he relocated westward to California in order to fully pursue a career as a professional photographer. While in California, he began taking pictures of athletes and bodybuilders most notably on Muscle Beach in Venice near the Santa Monica Pier. Immersion in this culture of competitive bodybuilding gradually led Bellas to concentrate exclusively on the sculptural possibilities of the male body.Alongside Al Urban and Russ Warner, Bellas rapidly established himself as one of the leading physique photographers in the postwar United States. In comparison to his peers, and his approach to photography prioritized the male figure exclusively, using natural lighting and minimal staging or props to emphasize physical form and muscular detail. Through his physique photography, Bellas became one of the defining pioneers of the beefcake genre and a key documentarian of pre-Stonewall gay identity and culture.
Condition
Nothing adverse to note.
For further condition details or additional images, please contact info@vallots.com
- Provenance
Property of a Private California Collection.
- Shipping Info
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We do not offer in-house packing and shipping services. Shipping can be expensive, please consider obtaining an estimate prior to bidding. Below we have listed our preferred shipper as a courtesy, and we will be glad to assist you with your third-party shipping needs, however, we assume no liability for any shipper you use or any loss or damage occasioned in transport or otherwise as a result of shipping.
THE UPS STORE - CRANSTON
148 Atwood Ave, Cranston, RI 02920
(401) 654-6381
THE UPS STORE - PARSONAGE STREET
22 Parsonage Street, Providence, RI 02903
(401) 369-7029
IN PERSON PICK-UPS
In person pick-ups are to be scheduled by appointment during business hours (weekdays 9-4 pm) at 1155 Westminster St. Providence, RI 02909. Please call (401) 273-1618 or email: info@vallots.com
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