Critical Influences
Each month, I share essays and reflections on the stories, objects, and ideas that shape how we see ourselves and the world around us—through a gay lens. Check out Critical Influences.
A chance conversation at a publishing lunch reconnected me with someone from my very first job—and reminded me how a quiet moment of encouragement can stay with you for years. Read more.
A ceiling collapse causes a vintage collector to reconsider what really matters (“Readers Write” in The Sun)
For The Drift, “the lit mag of the moment” (The New York Times), I offered a brief analysis of the costumes from the 1988 film, Mystic Pizza.
Italian fashion meets same-sex love in 1990s New York (“My Story” in The Gay & Lesbian Review)
Struggling to find the right way to mourn a dead ex-boyfriend (Finalist for the 2021 Brooklyn Film & Arts Nonfiction Prize)
Storytellers’ True Stories About Love, Volume Two, edited by Judi Lee Goshen and Anne E. Beall, PhD
My contribution to this anthology began as a performance piece at New York City’s legendary experimental theater Dixon Place. Learn more.
I grew up shopping at thrift stores and church rummage sales, cultivating an eye for beautiful old things. These two books feature my vintage collections and my thoughts about them:
Design*Sponge
Sneak Peek
"This glimpse into Michael Quinn's Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn apartment showcases a true generosity of spirit."
—Amy Azzarito, Editor
Zandl Slant
"A day in the life of Master Michael Quinn—artist/event designer extraordinaire!"
—Irma Zandl, editor