my first queer kiss

Fundraiser to celebrate Pride

🌈 The Arts Center of the Capital Region celebrates Pride Month with David Puck’s mural My First Queer Kiss living on through t-shirts & prints to benefit Cafe Euphoria! 🏳️‍⚧️ $25 tees and $20 art prints available at Cafe Euphoria, located at 225 River St. and at The Arts Center. Full story & Q&A below.

PHOTO: Elizabeth Reiss & Atsushi Akera at Cafe Euphoria

My First Queer Kiss Mural Lives on Through Fundraiser

Troy NY June 6, 2025

As Pride Month is underway, The Arts Center of the Capital Region is keeping the message of a destroyed mural alive through a heartfelt fundraising campaign.

David Puck’s mural, My First Queer Kiss, created in October 2023 for The Arts Center’s Troy Art Block Festival in Church Street Alley, was irreparably damaged earlier this year. The artwork depicted two same-sex individuals sharing a kiss, rendered in vibrant purple hues against a brick wall. Surrounding them were excerpts from real first queer kiss stories collected from the public, including “He was wearing pomegranate chapstick” and “I was worried someone would see us.” Now, the mural’s legacy continues through t-shirts screen-printed by local artist and educator Eugene O’Neil and art prints produced by Troy Cloth & Paper.

Proceeds from the sales will support Cafe Euphoria, a transgender and nonbinary worker-owned restaurant and cafe co-op in downtown Troy dedicated to fostering radical equality. The Arts Center commissioned the t-shirts and prints to preserve the mural’s powerful imagery and raise funds for Troy’s LGBTQ+ community. T-shirts are available for $25, and art prints are priced at $20, both sold at Cafe Euphoria, located at 225 River St., and The Arts Center.

“Cafe Euphoria is our neighbor, ally, and partner in this meaningful project,” said Elizabeth Reiss, executive director of The Arts Center of the Capital Region. “We’re proud to support their mission through this initiative.”

The Arts Center and Cafe Euphoria saw an opportunity not only to preserve a cherished piece of art but also to channel its message into tangible support for a community space that embodies its values.

“Cafe Euphoria is deeply touched by David Puck’s artwork and its celebration of love, which resonates powerfully during Pride Month,” said Atsushi Akera, co-founder and general manager. “We’re honored that this mural’s legacy is helping sustain our cafe and community.”

Puck, a dual U.S./U.K. citizen who splits his time between both countries, is thrilled that his work supports Cafe Euphoria’s mission to provide a safe, visible space for the community.

“I haven’t been to it, but I had a look at it online, and I was like, ‘Yes, that is right up my street,’” Puck said of the cafe, using a British expression meaning my kind of thing. “So I was very into it.”

Seeking a New Site for New Mural

The Arts Center plans to commission a new mural from Puck for Troy, funded by American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) grants from the city. Interested building owners with high-traffic locations who would like to provide a space for the artwork can email elizabeth@artscenteronline.org.

“Troy supports The Arts Center’s vision for public art that celebrates love and inclusion. By investing ARPA funds in a new mural by David Puck, we’re fostering a stronger, more connected community where everyone’s story matters,” said Mayor Carmella Mantello.

Puck, who has created murals for global events like the London Mural Festival and NYC World Pride, designed My First Queer Kiss to promote visibility and empathy. A University of Oxford graduate with a degree in history, specializing in queer history, Puck often collaborates with communities to create inclusive public art.

“In street art and murals and particularly public work, critique is not very common,” Puck said. “So that’s always been a big motivation of mine—to have visibility in a place where people wouldn’t usually come across that kind of thing.”

That visibility, he explained, allows his art to reach those who might not share his perspective.

“I specifically do public work because I want this work to be in a place where people who don’t agree with it will see it—who don’t usually have the opportunity to see outside of their straight, normal world,” he said. “That they can see it and be like, ‘That’s not so scary.’”

The Art Center’s Troy Art Block, named the best new festival in America by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards in January 2024, transformed the Church Street Alley into the Capital Region’s first open-air gallery with 27 temporary murals.

“Public art, by its nature, is often ephemeral—exposed to the elements, vandalism, or time,” said Elizabeth Reiss, executive director of The Arts Center of the Capital Region. “But we remain committed to bringing art into Troy’s public spaces, creating destinations that inspire and connect our community.”

The timing of the fundraiser and announcement aligns with Pride Month, which began June 1, amplifying the mural’s message of love and acceptance.

“It’s a very difficult time at the moment for people, particularly trans people,” Puck said. “So for me, it’s about promoting communication and understanding, because if we talk about it, then we can get to know each other and we don’t have to live in fear.

Keep scrolling for an interview with David Puck about My First Queer Kiss.

A Conversation with david puck:

The story behind My First Queer Kiss

In October 2023, artist David Puck created My First Queer Kiss for The Arts Center of the Capital Region’s Troy Art Block Festival in Troy’s Church Street Alley. The mural, celebrating queer love through a striking depiction of a kiss and public stories of first queer kisses, was irreparably damaged earlier this year. Its message endures through a Pride Month fundraiser featuring t-shirts screen-printed by local artist Eugene O’Neil and art prints by Troy Cloth & Paper, with proceeds benefiting Cafe Euphoria, a transgender and nonbinary worker-owned cafe in downtown Troy. Below, Troy writer Duncan Crary speaks with Puck, a dual U.S./U.K. citizen and multidisciplinary artist, about the mural’s inspiration, its impact, and the power of public art to foster visibility and compassion.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity and readability.

Duncan Crary:

David, I’m sorry your mural was damaged, but I’m excited it will live on in art prints and a t-shirt. What inspired My First Queer Kiss?

David Puck:

The main inspiration is that in street art and murals and particularly public work, critique is not very common. You can see why, because it gets tagged over. So that’s always been a big motivation of mine, is for visibility, really, and to have visibility in a place where people who wouldn’t usually, they maybe don’t have friends or they don’t come across that kind of thing. They’re more likely gonna see it. And obviously this is an example where one individual has chosen then to go over it, but maybe there’s other people who would’ve seen that and would’ve had a different reaction, seeing something outside of what they’re used to. So the goal of it really is just for more visibility and acceptance and compassion towards all people, just people who are different, who aren’t usually so seen. Then this piece itself, it’s a picture of two friends of mine. I chose the kiss because it’s love, it’s compassionate. It’s this really simple, universal form of love, really. So to me, it’s very pure. It’s showing, in this example, they’re two men. So it’s that love, but it’s love of all people, really. Then the writing inside the mural is from my first call-out. I put out on my Instagram and I asked friends, and I just put out in lots of different places, asking for stories of people’s first kiss. I got all these stories back, so many, and I just took little sentences from each one and put them in the mural. So it’s this big collage of lots of different people’s experiences, and some of them are sad, some are really cute and happy. So they cover a whole range of experience and emotions.

Duncan Crary:

How does My First Queer Kiss connect to your broader work? Was this a new approach for you?

David Puck:

It’s a little bit different because I don’t often use text. It’s similar in the sense that my style is about taking one more abstract element and then adding it to the realism of the portraits. That’s what I like to do. But the text is something that I don’t always use. So it was a new idea. I haven’t done this concept before. It was an original concept made just for this mural. I’ve always, I love people. I love psychology. I’m training as a therapist currently. I’ve worked in mental health a lot before as a support worker. So that is, it’s just something that’s always been really fascinating to me. That’s also why I tend to do portraits, because I’m fascinated with people and our different perceptions.

Duncan Crary:

How long did it take to paint My First Queer Kiss in the Church Street Alley, and were other artists there with you at the same time during The Art Block event?

David Puck:

I think painting was a couple days. I do remember now because I thought at the time that it was maybe at risk of getting tagged over very fast. I remember for the night, the one night that before it was finished, I parked the lift right in front of their faces to make sure that it was blocked. Because I really didn’t want it to get covered before I even had a chance to finish it, because then we wouldn’t even have the photo to use for what’s ended up now being the t-shirts and stuff. So yes, it was two days of painting. Then longer for coming up with the idea. Taking the photo with my friends and then doing the call-out and compiling all the stories and stuff. It was The Art Block. So there was a load of people, and they were so nice. I remember, I can’t remember their name now. I could see their face, though. But one of the artists was so sweet and said to me, ‘cause they were queer as well, and they were just so happy to see that I was doing something really visible. They were like, we need more of this. In Troy, this is really special to see. It was really nice to hear that from them.

Duncan Crary:

You’ve created many other public murals? Why do you value this medium?

David Puck:

I have loads, all over the place. They’ve also been tagged a lot, so I’m actually quite used to it. I know, it’s happened in a homophobic way before as well. So I mean, it’s sad, but it’s also something that I’m used to because I know that it gets targeted more than the average piece. Because it only takes one person, you know? I specifically do public work because I want this work to be in a place where people who don’t agree with it will see it yet. Don’t usually, who don’t usually have the opportunity to see outside of their straight, normal world, that they can see it and be like, that’s not so scary. There’s people like us who love and kiss.

Duncan Crary:

Is there a plan for you to return and create another piece?

David Puck:

I don’t know if it’s confirmed yet, but that’s what they’re hoping to. I haven’t thought of it yet because I’m a “don’t count your chickens till they hatch” person. So I’m waiting for the confirmation, and then once we know what the wall is, then we can think of ideas. So I haven’t thought of it yet, but I know that I think they want it, and I would also want it to be something similar, something that’s very visible, ‘cause it’s kind of to make up for the fact that this one was painted over.

Duncan Crary:

The prints and t-shirt will fundraise for Cafe Euphoria. Did you ever visit Cafe Euphoria while in Troy?

David Puck:

No, that was their suggestion. I haven’t been to it, but I had a look at it online, and I was like, yes, that is right up my street. So I was very into it, but no, I haven’t been there myself.

(Note: the expression “up my street” is the British equivalent of “up my alley” meaning my kind of thing or place in this instance.)

Duncan Crary:

Anything else you’d like to add?

David Puck:

I think the only thing that, the only other thing I would wanna say, and this could also be covered by other people as well, but, yeah, you don’t have to direct quote me on it because I haven’t planned this out. I dunno how eloquent it’s gonna be, but it’s just this idea, it’s a very difficult time at the moment for people, and particularly trans people, and there’s a lot of people out there, some of which that will live in Troy, have really negative ideas about people and trans people, and have a lot of fear as well around ‘em. So for me, it’s about promoting communication and understanding, because if we talk about it, then we can get to know each other and we don’t have to live in fear, because ultimately everyone is human and they just wanna love and be loved and be safe. That’s the general vibe that I feel.

Duncan Crary:

If that’s off the top of your head, that was amazing. Do you think art is a great way to start those conversations, being colorful, interesting, and engaging?

David Puck:

I think so, because art is about expressing ourselves and then being able to express ourselves in a way that’s also beautiful or interesting or challenging. So if we’re open to listening, then I think it can totally promote really interesting conversations, because every piece of art is somewhat, makes us a piece of their soul. This was a piece of my soul, you know, so I said I’m used to it because it happens a lot, but of course it’s still, it still hurts to see a piece of my soul be destroyed by someone else. But I would hope that that could just lead to more conversations, which it is, you know, this press release is a conversation. It’s the start of one. So yeah, it’s all a developing story.

Duncan Crary:

That’s excellent. David, thank you so much. I really enjoyed talking with you.

David Puck’s website is: https://davidpuckartist.art

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my first queer kiss

My First Queer Kiss Mural Lives on Through Fundraiser

A Conversation with david puck:

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