Kyle Meets… Jason Villegas, the 40 Year Old Slut

In the age of sex and body positivity, the queer arts scene in New York City seems to be fast approaching a new era. Artists are emerging with more daring, provocative, game-changing works of art that continue to push the envelope, testing the limits of what can easily be consumed. One of the artists that stands out most is New York-based contemporary queer artist Jason Villegas, also known to many of his social media followers as Chubby Tanuki.

I recently had the chance to have a chat with Jason, in which we discussed his brand of colorful, brave, and uncensored queer art, as well as the inspiration behind his latest work.

KJ: Hey Jason! Well, the first thing I would like to ask is how did you come up with the name “Chubby Tanuki”? What is the background/origin/meaning?

JV: Chubby Tanuki is the name I started using for my comics. It then became my Instagram name and then morphed into an all encompassing name for all my methods of queer expression. I just might start using it as my name for art exhibitions as well. Everything I share – sculptures, paintings, comics, storytelling, my sexuality – it has all become one thing! 

The term “Tanuki” is a Japanese word meaning “raccoon-dog”. It is an adorable animal, and a part of Japanese folklore. It’s also in one of my favorite Studio Ghibli animation films entitled POM POKO. There are shrines in Japan dedicated to them, and an endless variety of ceramic sculptures that represent the animal in a cartoonish teddy bear-like anthropomorphism. They are supposed to have magical powers of transformation and can disguise themselves as other animals or people. 

Tanukis are also considered real gluttons, so they’re really chubby with “moobs” and round bellies. Usually they are shown with huge balls that rest on the ground and a small peen poking out. I think of them as my spirit animal! People often think they are some sort of fertility statue, but I think they’re supposed to be humorous.

KJ: That’s very interesting! I didn’t know any of that. Now, you also told me previously that you are originally from Houston, Texas. I’m originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. I know that growing up Black and gay in the south has influenced my art tremendously. Did growing up a young queer man of color in the south influence your life and art in any particular way? Do you explore any of the struggles you may have faced growing up through your art?

JV: Oh yeah, for sure! Being a queer, fat person of color caused me to learn a lot of hard lessons and develop survival skills. I have a different perspective, I think, because I never really even had a developed Latino cultural background. My parents didn’t teach us Spanish, so we were sort of considered outsiders in the Mexican community, as well as in the White schools we would commute to in the more fancy areas of town. 

I grew up on pop culture and animation, which has influenced my art significantly. Also, my growing up queer, and the identity issues that came with that influences a lot of what I do. I have been included in heritage themed art exhibitions, and meeting other Mexican-American artists at these exhibitions always makes me feel bad that I don’t feel more connected to my roots. But that’s my life and my experience, and all I can do is put it into my work.

Honestly, the past couple years of what I consider to be political hell have made me more active in pursuing these tougher themes of identity, in order to counter the MAGA bullshit. I may not have been the most connected to my roots, but you can’t grow up brown and queer in a red state like Texas and not be effected by prejudice and discrimination – It’s going to influence everything in your life!

KJ: Your latest project is a comic book entitled 40 Year Old Slut. First of all, I love the title. I’m all for sex positivity. What was the inspiration behind this comic? Is it sort of semi-autobiographical?

JV: I was in a bit of a life rut and and was feeling like I needed a change. I went out during New York pride week a few years ago for the first time in a while, and was inspired by the sexiness of the city and the bear world that I had removed myself from for awhile. I had gotten a little too comfortable in my relationship doing the whole “Netflix and chill” thing, as well as eating a bit too much. I am a champion for chubs and I love being a big boy, but I’d personally just gotten a little too big for my own comfort. I was having trouble doing certain things. My health took a dive once I turned 40, so I made the choice to start going to the gym and working out more often. I wanted to feel sexier, so I started lifting weights. I was also starting to like the whole “muscle chub” look.

KJ: Were you and your partner open during this time, or did you not open your relationship until much later on?

JV: My partner and I had previously fooled around with other guys during our relationship, but decided we needed to open up our relationship completely and start doing things on our own.  Being back on the prowl and coming out of a stagnant sexual period just made me feel alive again. I saw the gay sex world had changed a lot from the last time I was in slut mode. With the availability of PrEP, it was like a magical sexual paradise of pleasure before my eyes in NYC! 

Then, all this terrible Trump reality started changing the world, and suddenly I felt the need to cram my queer identity and sexuality down everyone’s throats. I wanted to do something that expressed what I was dealing with and what I was exploring in my life. Sure, it was for pure sexual exploration and pleasure, but it is also a form of resistance to the alt-right and the people who say that we as queers have the right to exist as long as we keep in the dark. No, bitch! I’m bringing it into the light, and you can look away if you please.

KJ: So, you would definitely consider your project to be semi-autobiographical?

JV: Yes, it is semi autobiographical and discusses issues that I have experienced in my exploration and encounters – issues that have to do with open relationships, polyamory, unsafe sex, as well as concepts of transformation, identity, body types, and gender.

KJ: As a member of the bear community yourself, you seem very passionate about body positivity, as a lot of your work seems to feature larger body types. Would you say this is your way of empowering the bear community through your art?

JV: It’s one of my hopes, yes!  Representing chubby bears and chubs is a way to satisfy my lust, but also a way to offer the world a different view of beauty. I live in this bubble of chubbiness through my social media feeds and friends, so I forget sometimes that this is a very small subculture of both the gay and straight worlds.

I work with a LGBTQ art museum in New York, and was surprised that, in 2019, they still have very little -if any- artwork in their main collection that showcases how sexual, powerful, and hot a large body can be. I think the only thing I’ve seen is a portrait of Divine, but not in a sexual manner. I want that to change. I want to make work that showcases big bodies, and not in the artsy Mexican muralist way, but as full sexual beings.

I am huge on the body positivity movement, but not only in a thirsty way. I’m definitely thirsty, but I also want to say it’s okay to be proud of your body no matter what you look like. It’s okay to be proud and confident of your sexuality. Our sexual power is something to embrace and not something to be ashamed of or embarrassed about.

KJ: I’ve seen some of your videos on Instagram. You do this thing called “Queer Story Time”, where you basically tell your coming-of-age stories to your followers. Do you feel like maybe you’ve taken on somewhat of a “mother” role in this way? Is your goal to maybe guide younger queers by sharing your experiences?

JV: (laughs) Well, it wasn’t my initial intention to be a “mother”, but honestly that’s totally fine with me. Young queers do contact me to express appreciation for my stories and for the way I express myself online, and I am always happy to make a difference in someone else’s life.

KJ: Have you ever participated in any storytelling or open mic nights?

JV: I was invited to be part of a queer storytelling night at Dixon Place in Soho, and I really enjoyed myself. It was basically stand-up comedy and I was surprised at how natural it came to me, and how good it felt to entertain a crowd with my brand of humor. I’ve got the bug now, so I hope to do more live storytelling at some point. But, for now, the instagram vlogs are keeping me entertained, while inspiring others to talk about their own stories and share their issues.

I am a very empathetic person, and it’s very natural for me to be a non-judgmental listener. People also like my face and they trust me. I aim not to let anyone down. I never claim to be an expert on anything, I just share my own experiences and opinions.

KJ: You’re basically an all around visual artist. You do everything – drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, installations, etc. Do you have a favorite art form?

JV: Sculpture has always been my main love, in terms of artistic expression through a physical product. To be more precise, sculptural installations are my favorite, but it’s been awhile since I had an opportunity to have free range of a space or a wall to transform with a site-specific creation. I love it all, and the opportunities and inspirations come as they want to. I try to just let the energy flow through me and let that energy create what it wants when it wants. 

This is why I gave up on trying to be a gallery artist, because I will never be that kind of artist that paints a thousand paintings that all look the same and are easy to sell. I am really into comics now, because I don’t need a studio to draw and illustrate. I can do that anywhere.

My comics and my storytelling are feeling like healthy places for my creativity right now. They’re both DIY, they’re raw, they’re real, and they make me happy. They don’t require any art director or gallery owner, or anyone for me to prove my worth to. I just to get an opportunity to express myself to my audience. I feel like all those extra hoops really kill true art.

KJ: What are some other themes you like to explore in your art that we may not have talked about?

JV: Even though it ties into sexuality and gay sex themes, I have recently made a series of ceramic and porcelain sculptures that explore my feelings about PrEP. I take PrEP, and I am a strong supporter of it. However, I also can’t help having fears and concerns. 

I remember being a kid and watching gay guys die on TV and being afraid of the gay area of Houston. It’s a whole different world now than the one I grew up in, so it’s always something in the back of my mind. It’s sort of like Jesus. I grew up with Christianity pushed into my brain, and although I am far removed from that now, it’s always there like a scar. 

I’m also working on a new series of paintings that show bears and chubs in facial masks like the ones people post on social media. These will be fast and gestural, slightly abstract, and will take on other concepts, such as race and masculinity. I suppose these are all still concepts that relate to everything else I do, so basically it’s all still queer art!

Also, in addition to my art making, I’ve recently ventured out into acting! I was recently cast in a YouTube series entitled Skeleton Crew, which is a chub/bear dramady in its 5th season. I shot my first scenes last weekend and really enjoyed myself. I believe new episodes with my scenes should be released toward the end of the year.

KJ: I see that you have exhibited your work in many places, nationally and internationally. You’re a big deal in the art world! Do you have any upcoming exhibits that we should be looking out for?

JV: Aww thanks, that’s sweet to say!  I am happy with the success and opportunities I have been fortunate enough to acquire, but as an artist I always feel it’s not enough. I am my worst supporter sometimes and can get caught up in the trap of comparing myself to others online and feeling like I’m falling behind. It’s a tough world to try and crack into and make a living in, especially when I have yet to figure it all out. (laughs)

I will be presenting a solo show next year at the Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art’s Project Space in Soho. The show will also be presented in the main museum as part of a group showing of all the Leslie Lohman Fellowship artists, which is now in its third round.

Also happening in a few weeks is Flamecon, which will be in Times Square from August 17th -18th! I am excited to have a table where I will be promoting and debuting my new comic 40 Year Old Slut!

KJ: Lastly, where can people find you on social media, and where can they purchase one of those cool Chubby Tanuki T-shirts?

On Facebook I can be found as Jason Villegas, which is both my personal and artist page. There is also a page for my comics called Chubby Tanuki Comics. 

On Instagram you can find me @chubbytanuki. I do it all there – thirst, art, queerness, etc. It’s me as an open book, although I tend to get shadow banned a lot for some reason. I even stopped showing my bare ass cheeks! I don’t get it. I should have at least 15K followers by now, but things are a bit stagnant because of these stupid bans.

You will be able to buy many of my products at Flamecon, including the Chubby Tanuki shirts, stickers, enamel pins, various comic zines, and some small sculptures, including porcelain popper ornaments. Usually these products can be ordered on my artist website www.chubbytanuki.com, but the shirts are on hold so I can make sure to have plenty of stock at the comic-con.  After that is over, I will be back to selling everything online. People can also buy directly from me though my DM’s via Instagram and Facebook. 

I also have a Chubby Tanuki Comics Twitter and a Tumblr. In keeping with my support and promotion of sex positivity, I have a NSFW onlyfans.com/chub-t where I post videos and pics from my “40 Year Old Slut” escapades around NYC! This helps to fund my art projects, which are never cheap or easy. I, on the other hand, am both! (laughs)