As we prepare to close a chapter on 2018, we look back over the year through some of favourite images. From unforgettable SLEEK editorials to compelling portraits, and stirring scenes and snapshots — originally published on sleek-mag.com or across our four annual issues — we’ve compiled our favourites below, including Nadia Lee Cohen’s self-portrait for SLEEK 60, a surreal composition by Prue Stent and Honey Long, introspective portraits of young men by Rosie Matheson and John Edmonds, a re-invented mirror selfie by Ryan McGinley, and a truly memorable shot of Marie Forque literally bending over backwards as lensed by Noel Quintela for SLEEK 57. Feast your eyes on the year that was.

Vinietka by Join the Cool

Ukrainian photography collective Join the Cool spoke to the teenager in all of us with their latest project, Vinietka, which captured nostalgic high school scenes from kissing in corridors to napping on desks, and flirting in the purple light of the prom. We chatted to the “too cool for school” collective back in October about their new take on the traditional graduation album.

Marie Forque by Noel Quintela from Send Nudes in SLEEK 57

Spanish photographer Maria Forque has been banned from Instagram and condemned in the press, which is exactly why we were thrilled to have her star prominently in SLEEK 57, where we quizzed her about her artwork that confronts the taboos of sex and nudity.

From Boyz II Men by Nti

In this exclusive editorial for sleek-mag.com, Berlin-based photographer Nti returned to his native Ghana after 19 years to photograph young boys aged between 11 and 13, dressed in smart and stylish local designs, including sharp ’80s tailoring by native designers, Atto Tetteh, Larry Jay and Gary Pie.

From Sour Strawberries by Lin Zhipeng (223)

Beijing based photographer Lin Zhipeng (aka. 223) dropped his photobook Sour Strawberries this summer, and we fell in love with his exploration of steamy controversial subjects — exposed bodies, pubic hair, naked lovers intertwined — which are censored in his native country. Just don’t compare him Ren Hang — he told us “it’s ignorant” to do so when we chatted to him back in August. 

From Phanta Firma by Prue Stent and Honey Long

The female body can be a strange place to occupy at times, and nothing encapsulated this more in 2018 than the surreal and sensual imagery of Prue Stent and Honey Long. We were lucky enough to catch up with the duo for SLEEK 58 ahead of their Phanta Firma exhibition at Arc One Gallery, Melbourne.

Andrew from Mirror, Mirror by Ryan McGinley

We all love taking a good (naked?) mirror selfie,  but the release of Ryan McGinley’s photobook Mirror Mirror back in October turned them into an art form.

From Higher by John Edmonds

New York based photographer John Edmond’s first monograph, Higher, contains tender and luminescent photographs of young black men that shatter the stigma around black masculinity.

Deal taken from Exit by Isabelle Graeff

Brexit’s been one of the biggest political talking points of 2018, and this photograph by Isabelle Graeff of a broken up jigsaw bearing the Queen’s face is the perfect symbol of the disintegration of the UK as we know it. We chatted to Graeff and four other London-based artists for SLEEK 59 about how the UK’s  planned departure from the EU will impact their creative output.

Carlota Guerrero for Cabinet in SLEEK 58

Our exclusive photo story from our summer issue saw Solange-approved photographer Carlota Guerrero travel to Havana to capture vibrant portraits of Cuba’s stigmatised transgender community. Find out more about the shoot in our online article. 

From “No one knows exactly what’s going to happen, right?” by Martin Parr

England experienced a major heatwave this summer, and renowned photo-journalist Martin Parr was there to capture Londoners revelling (and suffering) in the sun. He also lensed Serpentine Gallery Director Hans Ulrich Obrist for the cover of SLEEK 59.

Elliot from Boys by Rosie Matheson

We loved how British photographer Rosie Matheson subverted stereotypes by re-interpreting modern masculinity through her female gaze.

From Fortitude and Fury by Vitali Gelwich in SLEEK 57

Berlin-based fashion photographer captured girl-of-the-moment Nicole Atieno on the smouldering streets of South Africa  for our spring issue.

Nadia Lee Cohen  photographed by Nadia Lee Cohen in SLEEK 60

We were lucky enough to have British-born and LA-based photographer Nadia Lee Cohen, who is renowned for her hyperreal and cinematic portraits, as our cover star for self-help themed SLEEK 60. She also shot an inside portfolio examining the contemporary obsession with the self.

From Alter Call by Michaiah Carter in SLEEK 59

Photographer Micaiah Carter lensed our captivating SLEEK 59 menswear spread, featuring vitiligo model Yvesmark Chery, who redefines male beauty.

Irma lingerie by Genia Volkov and Kristina Podobed

What’s better than Irma’s body positive lingerie? It could only be Irma’s body positive lingerie shot by Join the Cool collective photographers Genia Volkov and Kristina Podobed, with an inclusive range of models and a hands-off approach to Photoshop.

Richie Shazam photographed by Nathan Mitchell in SLEEK 59

In an exclusive shoot for SLEEK 59, long distance creative duo Richie Shazam and Garrett Nelson explored concealment and exposure as they did in their one-off performance at Kunsthalle Basel back in February. For our autumn issue, the pair told us that they are “glittering the universe with their faggotry”.

 Cauchemar existentie by Christto & Andrew

From Teenage Riot by Fumi Nagasaka

Capturing candid moments of youth, Fumi Nagasaka’s new photobook is at once a mesmeric account of girlhood and an eye-opening cultural document.

From Heavenly Creatures by  Kito Muñoz in SLEEK 58

Let’s face it, we all wish we could rock the sparkly pastel shirt and baker-boy hat combo from our SLEEK 58 menswear spread, shot by ‘it’ photographer Kito Muñoz and styled by Anna Murillas.

From “9ja” by Ruth Ginika Ossai in SLEEK 60

For SLEEK 60, one of our favourite photographers, Ruth Ginika Ossai, captured friends and relatives in an exclusive Nollywood-inspired, lively portfolio in locations across Lagos, Anamabra and Enugu State in Nigeria.