WorldPride is a global LGBTQIA+ festival with a broad offering of events from arts to sport, theatre, concerts, parties, First Nations programming and a human rights conference. It is being held for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere!
In keeping with the celebrations many art galleries have curated special exhibitions to honour the work of LGBTQIA+ artists and share their narratives and history. Launching tomorrow Friday 17th February and on until 5th March WorldPride recommends a range of these art, theatre, music and performance events to get your teeth into, click here for more info. Read on for a range of art experiences we think will delight, educate, and inspire.
The Party at UNSW Galleries, Sydney
This exhibition comprises photographs, artwork, video documentation and materials documenting and celebrating LGBTQI+ party culture in Sydney from 1973 to 2002. The pieces on view will track the history of party venues, as well as touch on the sexual and social freedom of the time.
Queer Contemporary at the National Art School, Sydney
At NAS you’ll find several art experiences including the exhibition Braving Time: Contemporary Art in Queer Australia, Fulgora and Luke Thurgate: Adore You. There will also be a suite of public activities and site activations, from life drawing to a block party!
Unravelling Queerly at the Australian Design Centre, Sydney
The gallery explains ‘Practices such as weaving, crochet, embroidery, quilting and sewing have a rich history with LGBTQIA+ artists, makers and designers.’ As such they bring together the work of 10 artists who harness this medium to explore identity, and to make protest, celebration and self-expression centre stage.
Baya-Ngara-Banga (Speak-Listen-Make) at the Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative, Sydney
Pairing poetry and visual art this exhibition stems from an anthology of First Nations LGBTIQA+ poetry from which artists have taken inspiration. The show is curated by Steven Ross.
Absolutely Queer at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney
This showcase of costumes, design, artworks, fashion, activism and multimedia celebrates the creativity and activism of LGBTQIA+ thought leaders. There will also be costumes on display from the 1996 Powerhouse exhibition Absolutely Mardi Gras, including work by Brenton Heath-Kerr, Ron Muncaster, Brian Ross and Peter Tully.
WorldPride at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
The AGNSW are hosting an array of free events to celebrate WorldPride. They have also commissioned new work from artists Brian Fuata, Leo Tsao, Al Joel and Blu Jay who will be a part of the programming collectively known as Sweet Incites in the gallery and the Queer Art After Hours events. Queer Encounters is a curated display of artworks which are situated in, and respond to, the vestibule and Kaldor Hall at the entrance to the Art Gallery of New South Wales‘ South Building.
