When Adrian Lourie launched meat back in 2010, he just wanted to make a physical zine before print media disappeared completely. Sixteen years, 76 issues, and over 800 naked men later, that side project has grown into a massive archive of queer culture. To mark the milestone, Lourie is releasing meat: The First Sixteen Years, a retrospective book collecting almost two decades of independent gay publishing.
I sat down with Lourie to talk about how a DIY, tongue-in-cheek project turned into a career-defining legacy, how body standards have shifted, and why unretouched photography matters more than ever.
A Counter to Mainstream Media
From the very beginning, Lourie wanted meat to feel raw and anti-design. He was looking for a specific type of guy in gay magazines at the time, but he rarely saw them represented.
“Not seeing the kinds of men I fancied in the mainstream gay media,” Lourie told me when asked what drew him to shooting everyday men over professional models. “Don’t get me wrong, I can get a bit weak for a gym boy, but I wanted to see hairy guys, dad bods and all the other types of men I found sexy being put out there too, because they’re just as sexy. I think it’s still relevant and important today. I’m a sucker for a soft belly and a scruffy beard.”
The early issues drew heavy inspiration from vintage physique pictorials, giving everyday guys a platform to show off without corporate polish.
“I had absolutely no idea, and this is actually my fifth book!” Lourie laughed. “Initially, I was just really keen to produce something in print, because at that moment it felt like that was becoming a disappearing art. I wanted to add to the DIY print publishing landscape, but I also wanted to give some visibility to a more diverse range of men than I was seeing in the gay media at the time.”
Watching Queer Culture Evolve
Looking back through sixteen years of images, Lourie noticed how much his subjects have changed since 2010. Clothing choices, body hair trends, and personal confidence have shifted dramatically over the years.
“I think the guys have changed,” he said. “There’s a lot more emphasis on body positivity and diversity now, and I love that. I love seeing how beard styles, clothes, particularly underwear, and the way guys present themselves have evolved. Guys embracing their size, shape, identity and age is very liberating to document.”
He also noticed a shift in how comfortable people are in front of the lens, particularly as trans representation grew within the publication.
“Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have found a trans man willing to put himself out there naked for meat,” Lourie explained. “The fact that I’ve photographed quite a few now, and even put a trans guy on the cover of one of the zines’ naked issues, feels really special.”
Real Bodies in an AI World
The core rule of meat has always been straightforward: no retouching. In an era dominated by heavy editing and artificial intelligence, keeping things real remains a point of pride for Lourie, even if part of it comes down to practical reasons.
“Well, I’m a terrible retoucher and clearly haven’t improved much over the years, so there’s a practical element to it too!” he joked. “But seriously, it’s always been important to me to show guys as they really are, without smoothing away the things that make them individual. With filters, AI and increasingly unrealistic images everywhere, I think that feels even more important now.”
His shooting process has changed over time, moving away from harsh studio setups and into his subjects’ homes. That shift brought a more personal feel to the work, allowing readers a peek into real lives and living rooms.
“I love rocking up at a guy’s place and just having to make it work,” Lourie said. “Dealing with space and light issues keeps me on my toes. And then there’s trying to create an instant bond with someone in what is, after all, quite a brief but intimate encounter.”
Looking Ahead to the Next Chapter
While compiling the retrospective allowed Lourie to reflect on past shoots, like a wild trip to San Francisco to launch meat SF, he hasn’t put his camera down. The final pages of the new book feature portraits taken just weeks ago.
“I hope people see that I started this at a time when there was very little of this kind of project around,” Lourie said. “I’ve committed to creating something that has meaning, but is also sexy and fun, and gives guys the freedom to express themselves.”
If he could talk to the version of himself shooting issue one back in 2010?
“I think that guy would be pretty shocked that the project is still going,” Lourie said. “I’d probably just say, ‘Keep going.’ Keep pushing the work forward and, in a few years, you’ll have something to be really proud of and something that people enjoy and that means something to you.”
Pre-order Adrian’s new retrospective coffee table book – meat: The First Sixteen Years now.
