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A Trio Of Queer Art Exhibitions
A Trio Of Queer Art Exhibitions
The Wexner Center for the Arts at OSU is featuring three different exhibits from LGBTQ+ artists.
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By Kaylee Duff
The Wexner Center for the Arts — The Ohio State University’s “multidisciplinary, international laboratory for the exploration and advancement of contemporary art” — is showcasing art by three LGBTQ-identified artists. The Wexner Center is a space where both established and emerging artists can experiment, where the audience can participate in cultural experiences, where the community can come together to observe and understand the art of our time.
These three exhibitions that offer a splash of color and hope during some of the grayest months of the year are inspiring, touching and culturally significant. Community members can come experience collections of art by John Waters, Peter Hujar and Alicia McCarthy through the end of April.
John Waters: Indecent Exposure
The most comprehensive collection of his gallery-based art to date, Indecent Exposure draws from Waters’ experience with film and his interest in celebrity, crime, religion and kitsch. Waters is a filmmaker, writer, performer and visual artist who uses shocking, affectate humor to “subvert mainstream expectations of visual art” and draw viewers in with “his astute, provocative, and wickedly funny observations about society.” This exhibition is organized by The Baltimore Museum of Art.
John Waters Beverly Hills John, 2012 Chromogrenic print Rubell Family Collection, Miami Image courtesy of Marianne Boesky Gallery © John Waters
John Waters Jackie Copies Divine’s Look, 2001 Vinyl doll in fabric clothing with glass vitrine Collection of James Mounger, New Orleans Image courtesy of Marianne Boesky Gallery © John Waters
John Waters Image courtesy of the artist
John Waters Divine in Ecstasy, 1992 Chromogenic print Collection of Amy and Zachary Lehman Image courtesy of Marianne Boesky Gallery © John Waters
Peter Hujar: Speed of Life
In this collection of photographs spanning four decades, Hujar offers a glimpse into the world of gay culture between the Stonewall uprising in 1969 and the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. Hujar existed in a world of avant-garde dance, music, art and drag, until his untimely death from AIDS in 1987. These portraits are uncomplicated yet far from simple; they’re touching, full of empathy, life and culture. Peter Hujar: Speed of Life was organized by the Morgan Library & Museum, New York, and Fundación MAPFRE, Madrid.
Peter Hujar Sheryl Sutton, 1977 Gelatin silver print Purchased on The Charina Endowment Fund, The Morgan Library & Museum, 2013.108:1.46 © Peter Hujar Archive, LLC, image courtesy of Pace/ MacGill Gallery, New York and Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco
Peter Hujar Ethyl Eichelberger as Minnie the Maid, 1981 Gelatin silver print Purchased on The Charina Endowment Fund, The Morgan Library & Museum, 2013.108:1.41 © Peter Hujar Archive, LLC, image courtesy of Pace/ MacGill Gallery, New York and Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco
Peter Hujar Gay Liberation Front Poster Image, 1969 Gelatin silver print Purchased on The Charina Endowment Fund, The Morgan Library & Museum, 2013.108:1.76 © Peter Hujar Archive, LLC, image courtesy of Pace/ MacGill Gallery, New York and Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco
Alicia McCarthy: No Straight Lines
McCarthy is known for colorful, vibrant abstract paintings influenced by punk and queer subcultures, graffiti and folk art. She often uses found elements or recycled materials tied to the surrounding community. In this site-specific mural created in the lower lobby of the Wexner Center, McCarthy utilized leftover paint from past Wexner Center exhibition installations, in honor of Columbus’ DIY culture.
Alicia McCarthy Untitled, 2017 Water-based spraypaint on marine grade plywood Installation at San Francisco Art Institute’s Fort Mason Campus. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Stephanie Smith
Alicia McCarthy Untitled, 2017 Water-based spraypaint on marine grade plywood Installation at San Francisco Art Institute’s Fort Mason Campus. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Stephanie Smith
All three exhibitions are running through April 28. Tickets are free for members, college students (with valid ID), patrons under 18, active military and veterans; $8 for the general public; $6 for senior citizens (65 and older); and $6 Ohio State faculty and staff (with BuckID). All visitors are admitted to the exhibition for free on Thursdays after 4 p.m., and on the first Sunday of each month. Admission is also free with a ticket to any same-day Wexner Center event. The exhibition is closed on Mondays.
