Bastille (born Frank Webber) studied illustration at Pratt Institute and, in 1955, moved to Paris, France, to study metal engraving. In the 1980s, he took the name Bastille because he was born on Bastille Day, 14th July, and lived near the lace de la Bastille. His work regularly appeared in the early and best issues of TOY and Mr. SM, published by Michael Holm. His artistic works are small in size and often present dark expressions of sexuality, yet they are spiritually based. Bastille is internationally known for work with artistic depth and richness of the best fine art technique. Although the subject matter is slightly perverse, the level of artistry is always remarkable. Cited influences on his work are the writers Jean Genet, William Burroughs, Pierre Guyotat, and the artists Nigel Kent, Paul Cadmus, Rex, and the early work of Andy Warhol. In 1983 he sent his boyfriend Nigel Kent a series of love letters in envelopes he made into art, which are now part of the permanent collection of Tom of Finland Foundation. Skinheads often appear in his work but with no affinity to musical trends or political movements, either fascist or green. He is said to have loathed the concept of gay culture. He was fond of lewd, filthy-looking, straight-acting, manly guys with shaved heads and pubes. Bastille's love of rubber dates from his childhood memory of used condoms found in lover's lanes. He haunted hardware stores and loved to invent sex toys from his discovered materials, such as tubes. Bastille died in Dijon, France, from AIDS-related leukemia.
