Over 60 Years of Art Form Queer Identity

"Over the Rainbow," a group show that recently opened at Praz-Delavallade in Los Angeles, puts together LGBT artists from over 60 years. Skillfully curated by René-Julien Praz, the show spans from Jean Genet's video work in the '50s to Tom of Finland, AA Bronson, Catherine Opie, and emerging newcomers like Paul Mpagi Sepuya. The show is made up of video, painting, photography. and sculpture, all of which share in the addressing issues relevant to gay and queer identity, including how repression and liberation change meaning throughout generations.

In 1962 the state of Illinois abolished laws against “sexual perversions” that included homosexuality; the Stonewall riots in 1969 followed. The founding of the Gay Liberation Front in 1973 laid the foundation for activism that arose to confront the AIDS crisis in the '80s, led by artists and groups like ACT-UP, Gran Fury, and General Idea; the beginning of the 21st-century has seen important victories such as the legalization of same-sex marriage and the enactment of equal protection laws. "Over the Rainbow" recognizes the courageous and timely announcement by the Tate Britain of the 2017 Queer British Art initiative, a major exhibition devoted to 50 years of the decriminalization of homosexuality in the U.K. The exhibit continues through August 26.

Artists List: Sadie Barnette, AA Bronson, Matthew Chambers, Jean Cocteau, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Elmgreen & Dragset, Zackary Drucker & Amos Mac, Tom of Finland, Jean Genet, John Giorno, Nan Goldin, Herve Guibert, Matthias Herrmann, Richard John Jones, Alexander Kroll, Robert Mapplethorpe, Carlos Motta, Zanele Muholi, Adi Nes, Catherine Opie, Jack Pierson, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Sam Shahid, Stewart Shining, George Stoll, Paolo Titolo, Jean-Luc Verna, Sean-Patrick Watters, Bruce Yonemoto, Jwan Yosef.

Praz-Delavallade
6150 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 509 0895
Praz-Delavallade.com
Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.