Queer Pastoral

January 23 - March 21, 2027

Above: Tom Hsu, May, 2021, Courtesy of the artist

Curated by Zoë Chan with Shaun Dacey

Influenced by evocations of bucolic Acadia in Classical Greek art and literature, the pastoral genre of the Renaissance consisted of painted depictions of idyllic settings occupied by shepherds living in peaceful harmony with nature. Unenthused by the crowds, noise, and filth of the industrialized city, Romantic artists of the eighteenth and nineteenth century created idealized landscapes of rolling hills, meadows in bloom, and farmers working in the fields. These idealized scenes of country living show none
of its hardships or inequalities.

Framing the pastoral more as a mode, imaginary, vibe, or feeling rather than a specific genre, Queer Pastoral gathers local LGBTQ2+ artists whose diverse range of practices profoundly disrupt, reinterpret, and transform traditional pastoral landscapes. In these works, artists tenderly infuse the pastoral with queer bodies, ecologies, and aesthetics. Featuring painting, photography, video, and installation, this vibrant exhibition will be activated by a dynamic series of performances and workshops.

Artists include Lucien Durey, K. Ashton Fineday, Tom Hsu, Odera Igbokwe, Katie Kozak, Jag Nara, Vance Wright, among others.