F**k you, pay me: sex positive illustrations by Exotic Cancer

Body hair, beer breath and bondage are just some of the subjects of Exotic Cancer’s artwork, an anonymous stripper-illustrator who cathartically portrays her experiences. Exploring the perceptions of sex workers and the work they’re doing, the illustrations are playful, satirical and full of life.

Subverting the male gaze, Exotic Cancer’s creations point fun at the customer’s behaviour from ‘Business Toads’ to badly behaved men stuck in stripper platforms, and explores the plights and positives of the job.

Empowering slogans inundate the pastel-perfect Instagram page, from the accurate “Sex work is work”, to the classic “Fuck You, Pay Me” to the lighthearted “Money makes me cum”, Exotic Cancer’s sense of self is as vibrant as her sense of humour.

Not everyone seems to get it though, with Instagram repeatedly deleting the posts and sometimes even suspending the whole account, Exotic Cancer is one of the many artists whose livelihood is stripped due to the platform’s so-called ‘Community Guidelines’. Although there’s now a back-up account in place, the unfairness of Instagram’s treatment of independent artists – sex workers and otherwise – is an issue greater than just a couple nipples. It’s an issue with body positivity and female sexuality as a whole, and it’s one which needs to be addressed before the creativity is zapped out of everyone. Thankfully, we’ve got Exotic Cancer motivating us all along…

Support Exotic Cancer’s work through her print and merch shop here, and follow her first account here, and her backup here.