This portrait is one of my personal favorites. It’s of a man, a friend, named Stephan Kaufman who most people know as Thoth or half of the performing duet of Tribal Baroque. I love this particular portrait, because it shows, for me, the tenderness of the soul of this brilliant artist.

As I was thinking about this image this morning, I realized that this is not a photograph of Thoth, it is a photograph of Stephan. There are thousands upon thousands of images of Thoth in this world, but this one to me incorporates a more complete reflection of the tenderness and love of the soul of this beautiful man. I always feel so inspired being in his presence as he is a man of conviction, dedicating his life to creating beauty. “I heal through Prayformance.” he has said to me. It is a beautiful phrase because it acknowledges his own inner healing, yet opens to the possibility that others may or may not themselves be healed through his work.

Being a true artist with a full dedication of one’s life to the creation and embodiment of one’s art is rarely accomplished and never an easy task. He and his wife Lila travel the world, without their own home, performing where they find the supportive space to do so. Their music (and life) is an act of devotion and I think that this image somehow reflects the soul of a life lived with such devotion.