Queer Icons

Gabriel Garcia Roman

Opened May 31 - The last day to see this exhibition is Wednesday, July 19.

Polymer photogravure prints with chine-collé and silkscreen

Courtesy of the artist

Traditional icons are created using a specific visual language to depict religious figures. Garcia Roman’s series of portraits, centering the images of living LGBTQ people, expands upon this long-established form, broadening its meaning while hearkening back to a vibrant artistic tradition.

In the artist’s words, “The subjects in the series are drawn from many aspects of the gender and queer spectrum, elevating an image of a population that’s generally under-represented in the art world. The series references the portraiture styles of Renaissance, Flemish and Christian Orthodox paintings, while illuminating contemporary figures, which are multi-dimensional, powerful, and proud. The subjects in Queer Icons are people of color, who maintain separate, individual identities within the queer community. …The outsiders portrayed are repositioned as central to the narrative, like saints—inherently worthy of attention, emulation, and storytelling.”