Clandestine Queers, Hidden in Plain Sight

Clandestine Queers, hidden in plain sight, is a series of portraits that explores the history of queer-coded language and its place in art and queer culture. Queer art and artist have always existed, but have not always had the ability to be freely seen and shared. As a consequence of this, codes and symbols have been adopted and integrated into queer culture and art that would be overlooked by the general public, whilst still communicating and connecting with the queer community without fear of prejudice and violence. This has allowed queer art to exist for centuries to Millenia, hidden in plain sight. Queer themes in art have also historically been hidden under the guise of religious and mythical figures, such as Patroclus and Achilles from Greek mythology or Simon and Solomon from the bible. This series of portraits explores queer subtext in portraiture, playfully appropriating 1900’s western-European portraiture and allowing queer subjects a seat where historically it has been denied, including camp and queer visual codes that may be overlooked by typical viewer when looking at these paintings.

Respectable Lady

Oil on canvas

Distinguished Gentleman

Oil on canvas

Refined Lady

Oil on canvas

Respectable Gentleman

Oil on canvas