June 5th, 2024

Canon EOS M50 DSLR Camera, Adobe Photoshop

The creation of this piece was evidently inspired by Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. Growing up in Belgium during my formative and pre-pubescent years, where the cultural ties to Dutch art run deep, it felt appropriate to draw from his work. But beyond providing an homage to a masterpiece of the Renaissance, this work is also designed to serve as a commentary on the history and current realities of sex work.

Sex work is one of the oldest professions still practiced today. Contemporary sex work is quite varied but can be divided into two categories: indirect sex work and direct sex work. Indirect sex work includes everything from models who create and sell exclusive or niche online content to consumers to those who are compensated for providing burlesque dances or massages in an erotic setting. Direct sex work is more involved and includes anything from “streetwalking” and “escorting” to high-profile "celebrity yachting," where wealthy clients pay for companionship (and more) from elite providers on luxurious yachts (or other locations).

The diversity in sex work shows how it can be a means for self-expression, financial freedom, personal agency and autonomy. Voluntary sex work, when entered into fully consensually, can be empowering. However, we can’t ignore the toxic power dynamics and unhealthy systemic inequities that plague the industry, especially for minority groups.

Take exotic dancers, for example. Most work as independent contractors but still face outdated industry norms; in New York City alone, the rate of $20 per song has not increased since at least the 1990s. As a former dancer I can say that this rate does not reflect what current market rates should be, and exotic dancers deserve the right to set their own prices just like any other independent contractor.

Considering many sex workers besides exotic dancers categorize themselves as independent contractors there are additional issues of concern, such as the lack of right to worker’s compensation in case of workplace injuries, lack of support from the legal system in case of harassment or assault, or the criminalization of direct sex work which often results in greater socioeconomic hardship and intensified violence and stigma.

Fifty percent of the proceeds from minting this NFT will go towards the Urban Justice Center, which has instated the Sex Workers Project to provide legal and social aid to sex workers in need. The other fifty percent will go to The Red Umbrella Fund, a global grantmaking organization led by and for sex workers, dedicated to supporting sex worker rights and funding advocacy efforts to improve safety and health in the industry. Every subsequent sale will be split 50-50 with the seller and the nonprofits. You must be 18 years or older (or whichever is the legal age in your area) and possess a valid credit card tied to your name, or if purchasing with crypto you automatically attest that you are of legal majority age within your jurisdiction to be making such a transaction.