Queer East An exhibition of work by East Anglian artists
February 9 – 19 February 2023
Main exhibition Open Friday 10th to Sunday 19th from 12am to 6pm (closed Monday & Tuesday)
A curated exhibition of Norfolk based artists who identify as LGBTQIA+
#QueerFestNorwich
I’ve always loved self portraits - Using self portraits is not about vanity but to understand, to analyse, to scrutinise, to expose vulnerability to validate. I love how women have used the throughout history to interrupt the male gaze and make bold statements about self image and value. I wanted with this exhibition to interrupt the heteronormative gaze. I think that was achieved quite nicely. 11 artists, 11 very different representations of self, all very beautifully diverse.
Press release
‘Out In The Picture’, curated by Rachel Collier-Wilson, is an exhibition of self-portraits by emerging and internationally established Norfolk based artists who identify as LGBT+.
Rachel explains; “I wanted to provide a space for artists who identify as LGBT+ to acknowledge their place in our rich and diverse history and to celebrate LGBT+ History Month.
“LGBT+ History Month is an annual event to celebrate and educate regarding diversity and inclusion. As LGBT+ people, we are often ‘othered’ or left out of the picture. The Out In the Picture exhibition provides a space where we can put ourselves in the frame. Artists play a vital part in documenting history and, through self-portraits, artists can site themselves wherever they want to be seen.”
The exhibition will show the work of several artists local to Norwich and Norfolk. Their work is as varied and diverse as society but they have all created portraiture and self-portraits as part of their practice.
As a public display of identity, Out In the Picture aims to validate and affirm alternative identities, potentially sparking new ideas in individual practice and supporting emerging artists. The artists are sharing images of themselves which include themes of gender, sexuality, gender dysphoria, mental health, combating stigma, masculine- and feminine-presenting folk and, of course, some fun and playfulness.
Together we make a strong contribution to the varied art scene in Norwich.
There's Something Queer About this Art exhibition will be at Circle Space, St Augustines Street, from 20th July to 1 August. Part of the Norwich Pride Inspired series of events, the exhibition is curated by Norwich artist, Rachel Collier-Wilson. Rachel says:
"I wanted to create a space for LGBTQI+ identifying artists to exhibit their work and run small workshops. The exhibition includes a variety of media, styles and themes which, combined with the varied backgrounds and experiences of the artists, gives the viewers a look into this rich, diverse, creative community. Whatever the subject, it will be fabulous and we can’t wait to share it with Norwich."
Rachel contacted the Circle Space Gallery to book a week-long exhibition and the gallery decided not only to support the initiative, but to provide an extra week in the price. Vicki Johnson, gallery owner and Meredith Adams, gallery manager said:
“We want to go big on the community feel for this year's Pride as Norwich and the LGBTQI+ community could always use that little bit of extra community love.
The idea behind ‘There's Something Queer About This Art’ is to showcase art by Norfolk queer artists. The subject matter doesn't necessarily represent queerness, it just happens to be that the artists are LGBTQI+. Some art will represent identity, love and desire; prejudice and protest; and some that is about being an artist following a passion. All of which is validation towards being genuine to yourself.
LGBTQI+ artists are often marginalised, discriminated against and overlooked, as are many queer people generally. Rachel’s experience of often being ‘othered’ has frequently meant she’s lost confidence to submit artworks and be included in exhibitions. There’s Something Queer About This Art exhibition aims from the outset to be inclusive and incorporate as many submissions from local queer artists as possible.
Also on display will be the Norwich Pride Quilt. The philosophy of the quilt was to bring together members of the LGBTQI+ community to document and commemorate some of the key events of our history in textiles. It has resulted in a fantastic patchwork of history and stories.
Joe Ballard, chair of Norwich Pride says:
"The exhibition will be amazing and one of the jewels of the Norwich Pride Inspired strand. It's beautiful and inclusive and we're so proud of Rachel for creating this wonderful space as part of the Norwich Pride 2021 celebrations."
