the queer art of expression by natalia.sawicka

natalia sawicka

the queer art of expression

reframe art history explore art as activism celebrate queer creative voices

table of contents letter from the editor ... 3

art as “queer” -- what that means and why it matters .... 5

art history giants you didn’t know were queer ... 7

art history, queerly viewed ... 9

the eye of the beholder -- the validity of subjectively queer personal readings of art ... 11

queer protest art ... 13

art as activism can look like... .... 15

(just a few of the many) queer artists of instagram .... 17

artists represented & bibliography .... 19

letter from the editor

in navigating the daily chaos that is the human experience, there is no better guiding compass than art. far from a luxury, art is a necessity, acting as a window into the lives of others, a mirror for our own selves, and a light to illuminate even the deepest and most ineffable reaches of the heart, mind, and soul. when discovering and navigating my own queer identity, art has proven an invaluable avenue for the processing and expression of all the complicated and often contradictory emotions that came with it. art is the knife that rips me open, the net that catches the pieces, and the thread i have used to sew them back together into a cohesive -- albeit labyrinthine -- whole. 3

queer art has been a powerful force in the queer liberation movement, bringing visibility to the community and conveying queer voices and narratives with the nuance, beauty, and authenticity that they deserve. from taking up physical space as public artwork to online presence through social media, artists make themselves unapologetically heard, elucidating queer pain, queer joy, and everything in between. however, just as queer people have existed even before the dawn of the gay liberation movement, so has queer art. Regardless of the heteronormative filters we may impose on it, the art world has long included forms of queer expression and thus serves as a valuable window into the hidden queerness of the past. in these pages, i hope to offer just a glimpse into the value of looking at art history through a queer lens and the beauty hidden therein, while also highlighting diverse voices of contemporary queer artists. far more than just something to think pretty, art is powerful, bursting with the explosive potential to heal, to inspire, and to create change. 4

art as “queer”

what that means and why it matters prior to the 1980s, very few artists openly identified as LGBTQ+, making the queer historical art record virtually nonexistent. however, this does not equate to an absence of queer art altogether. exploring queerness in art can mean many different things.

≠

queer art inherently and explictly sexual “to assume that gay content cannot be present without a strong and clear indication that someone involved has sex with members of the same gender is to underestimate both the flexibility of the idea of content and the gay imagination." - dan cameron, art curator

queer art a single genre or artistic movement in assuming queer art as a distinct genre, we risk reducing the work of queer artists and work with queer themes to a single dimension, thus stripping it of its full complexity. artistic intent is best understood holistically, taking factors like social context into account.

there is no one way in which queerness manifests itself in art.

queerness in art can mean: queer creators --- since art is inherently a reflection of the artist, queer artists infuse their own queerness into their work queer content --- art may explore queer subjects, which may or may not be immediately easily identifiable while they may be obvious, they may also require close, critical interpretation on the part of the viewer to be truly understood.

why is queer art important? art has always been a means of examining, understanding, and even redefining reality queer art means visibility queer art means an acknowledgement of manners of existence outside the accepted norm queer art combats erasure and celebrates queer existence

art history giants you d michelangelo

the renaissance genius behind “david,” the sistine chapel, st. peter’s basilica, and “the pietà;” although his sexuality cannot be confirmed, scholars have long theorized him to have been gay (evident in part thanks to his very masculine nude aesthetic).

donatello

another florentine renaissance artist, donatello was a sculptor, famous for his rendition of david, but otherwise known for his striking attention to anatomical accuracy. according to some accounts, he is considered to be the first known openly gay artist in history, and may have gotten help from his wealthy patrons -- the medici family -- in sorting out his romantic troubles. 7

didn’t know were queer frida kahlo

a 20th-century painter known for her self-portraiture, frida kahlo explored many political themes in her works -- ranging from race and class issues to women’s rights to addiction -and often paid homage to her indigenous identity. she was bisexual, known to have affairs with both men and women (among them fellow painter georgia o’keeffe).

andy warhol

20th century pop art icon, andy warhol is most famous for his “campbell’s soup cans” paintings and “marilyn monroe” screenprints. he was openly gay, and often created art with his boyfriends.

art history,

a celebration of

queerly viewed

f queer artwork

--- the eye of th

the validity of subjectively qu

although critical academic scholarship is useful in studying art and uncovering artistic intent, art extends far beyond whatever confines the artist initially created it within. while artistic intent is important, it is not everything. art exists as a dialogue, a conversation between the viewer and the piece itself. art only ever truly exists when inside the eye of the beholder.

you, too, are an art critic.

entering into an art museum is the acceptance of the invitation to participate in the open democracy of artistic engagement. you need not know anything about a piece to feel its effect upon your psyche, the tug on your heartstrings. no one can dictate how a piece should make you feel.

he beholder ---

ueer personal readings of art

was the artist queer? was the artistic intent deliberately queer? the truth is: for many artists, we will never definitively know. we are left with only their work, the knowledge of the secret inner workings of their souls hidden deep within, and then lost to history. but to the queer museum goer: does it matter?

when you feel some part of your humanity expressed before you in swirling colors: does it matter? to take the time to see art is to enter through a doorway, built just for you. step inside, and embrace your humanity.

let yourself feel. let the art catch your complications. lose yourself. and then find yourself.

explosive activist potential art has long been a powerful force at the forefront of social movements. in its ability to carry a strong visual message while capturing creativity and beauty, art is a language understood by all, unmatched in its potential to easily communicate messages challenging the status quo and inspiring social change. during the 1960s -1980s, the gay liberation and aids activism movements corresponded with a rise in queer visibility through the visual culture of art, calling out society’s homophobia and urging politicians to act. 13

queer protest artists of note keith haring (1958 - 1990) was famous for his instantly recognizable pop art style, appealing to people of all backgrounds. his colorful, politically charged murals addressed issues ranging from the aids crisis to nuclear war, but he was also known for his uplifting message of love-is-love.

gran fury (art collective, established 1988) was known for their reclaiming of the upsidedown pink triangle, once used by nazis during the holocaust to identify and persecute queer people. gran fury flipped the triangle right-side-up and reframed it as a symbol for the aids activist movement through their “silence = death” campaign, a protest against government inaction.

gilbert baker (1951 - 2017) was the father of the original pride flag, first flown during protest in 1978. since simplified to 6 color bands (rather than 8, to ease cost of production), it has become a universally used symbol of 14 gay community, hope, and resistance.

art as activism

can look like,..

--- (just a few of the many) @britchida

this is a mere *taste* of the artistry out

@brohammed

@jeniferrprince

queer artists of instagram --there. they slay. go give them a follow.

@wkndpartyupdate

@favianna1

@david_hockney

artists represented anonymous francis bacon gilbert baker brit romaine brooks caravaggio donatello edes gran fury hanna gluck keith haring marsden hartley suzuki harunobu david hockney mohammed iman gwen john frida kahlo

ellsworth kelly marie laurencin sam lo/ ‘sklo’ sam mckinniss michelangelo georgia o’keeffe latoya d. peoples jenifer prince little ricky favianna rodriguez adam rolston natalia sawicka simeon solomon henri toulouse-lautrec tourmaline andy warhol

bibliography & resources Atkins, Robert. 1996. “Goodbye Lesbian/Gay History, Hello Queer Sensibility: Meditating on Curatorial Practice.” Art Journal. 55(4): 80-86. https://doi.org/10.2307/777660 Cottingham, Laura. 1996. “Notes on Lesbian: We’re Here: Gay and Lesbian Presence in Art and Art History.” Art Journal. 55(4): 72 -77. https://doi.org/10.2307/777658 Lampela, Laurel. 2001. “Daring to Be Different: A Look At Three Lesbian Artists.” Art Education. 54(2): 45-51. Retrieved October 13th, 2023. https://doi.org/10.2307/3193946 Landis, Sam. “Creating the Change They Wish to See: LGBTQ Artists and Their Activism.” National Center for Civil and Human Rights. https://www.civilandhumanrights.org/creating-the-change-they-wish-to-see-lgbtqartists-their-activism/ Rando, Flavia. 1996. “Reflections on a Name: We’re Here: Gay and Lesbian Presence in Art and Art History.” Art Journal. 55(4): 8-10. https://doi.org/10.2307/777647.

Reed, Christopher. 1996. “Imminent Domain: Queer Space in the Built Environment: We’re Here: Gay and Lesbian Presence in Art and Art History.” Art Journal. 55(4):64-70. https://doi.org/10.2307/777657 Rinehart, Richard. 2018. “Queering New Media/Art/Histories & Asking Questions about Nothing.” Media-N | The Journal of the New Media Caucus. 14(1): 78-80. https://doi.org/10.21900/j.median.v14i1.59 Tate Museum. “Five Stories of Queer Artists.” https://www.tate.org.uk/art/five-storiesqueer-artists Weinberg, Jonathan. 1996. “Things Are Queer: We’re Here: Gay and Lesbian Presence in Art and Art History.” Art Journal. 55(4): 11-14. https://doi.org/10.2307/777648. https://www.nga.gov/stories/lgbtq-artists-to-know.html https://queerstreetart.com/artists https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/27/t-magazine/stonewall-artists.html https://www.linearity.io/blog/the-queer-history-of-art/ https://www.myartbroker.com/collecting/articles/art-as-activism https://www.queensjournal.ca/how-artistic-activism-propelled-the-fight-againstqueer-prejudice/