West Hollywood art scholar and WEHOonline contributor Ignacio Darnaude will present a lecture titled “The Revolutionary Power of Queer Art: Transforming Mainstream Culture Throughout History” at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Advocate & Gochis Galleries on October 19, 2024, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
The event, part of the Circa: Queer Histories Festival 2024, will explore how LGBTQ+ artists have played a pivotal role in shaping art history and mainstream culture despite societal repression.
Darnaude’s lecture will highlight the impact of queer artists from the Renaissance to the present day, including their influence during the Victorian era, the McCarthy period, and the AIDS epidemic. Attendees will learn about the personal lives and works of both well-known and lesser-known artists and how their identities influenced their art. Darnaude’s project, “Breaking the Queer Code in Art,” focuses on the strategies these artists used to express themselves in times of repression.
This event promises to offer a fresh perspective on art history that is often overlooked in traditional educational settings and museums. Attendees will gain insight into how queer artists navigated scandals, broke legal and political barriers, and left lasting marks on global culture. The program may not be suitable for all ages.
Darnaude, who has presented lectures on queer art at institutions such as the University of San Francisco and the Museum of Latin American Art, was recently awarded an Arts Grant from the City of West Hollywood for his work.
The lecture is co-presented by the Los Angeles LGBT Center and organized as part of the Circa: Queer Histories Festival, hosted by One Institute. Circa 2024 features over 65 programs throughout October, celebrating LGBTQ+ history with the theme of “Love and (R)evolution.” The festival will include participation from a wide range of LGBTQ+ organizations and prominent figures such as Kevin Jennings, founder of GLSEN, and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Dr. Dee Mosbacher.
Tickets for the event are free but require RSVP through the Circa Festival website. Donations are encouraged to support One Institute, which has a long history of advancing LGBTQ+ rights and visibility through its publications and programming.
