LGBTQIA+ Collection

From David Hockney to Philip Treacy and Sin Wai Kin, the RCA has a long history of nurturing queer talent in the art world. Today’s RCA sees diverse LGBTQIA+ artists and researchers designing works that range from mobile lesbian bars to photographs of drag performers, exhibitions of queer history, and videos exploring the beautiful fluidity of trans bodies. Both politically charged and celebratory, questioning and queering, this Collection brings together practitioners who explore a variety of LGBTQIA+ experiences.

A central theme amongst many of our artists is one of reuse, bricolaging materials according to our queer perspectives, such as by embellishing garments with broken jewellery and assembling installations from old queer newsletters and photographs. Yet, while some creatively repurpose such historic references, others focus on autobiographical narratives of their queer selves. Another key theme is the creation and remembrance of queer spaces, whether that be through etching the floors of gay bars, documenting the work of queer archives, or designing new queer cafes.

Take a look through these students’ works and enjoy a glimpse into the RCA’s vibrant community of queer creatives!

Curated by Cas Bradbeer, the President of RCA Queer Society.