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General Timespan to have it present.
: Queer art as we know it under our own cultural understandings of homosexuality and gender non-conformity stretches back to the 1870s, but realistically queer art has existed for as long as there have been humans.
:Queer art had to be heavily coded and disguised in order to not break any laws or be discovered, as queerness was heavily criminalized in the past, with punishments including being put to death, or lobotomized in 1900s. -
:Queer art of all kinds explores the thoughts, feelings and desires of these artists in their own times, or were quiet signals for others of the community to know them by.
:More recently, however, queer art not only explores the intricacies of identity, but also can have a political bend as many bring attention to laws and rulings and events that have negative impacts in order to fight them and gather allies. -
Gluck, Medallion (YouWe), 1936, oil on canvas, 30.5cmx35.6cm, private collection.
: Gluck painted this portrait of themselves and their lover, Nest Oberma.
: And the artist even reinforced the idea that this was Nesta's and their's wedding photo, which was incredibly dangerous to do in the 30s. During this time, male homosexuality was heavily criminalized, but at this point there was very little language/ knowledge of lesbians and any transgender folk. -
Francis Bacon, Two Figures, 1953, oil on canvas, 60x45.8inches, private collection.
:While the expressions on this couple of men could be interpreted in several manners (agonized, ecstatic, etc.) the clear indication of nude bodies and present genitalia explicits makes this a painting that is sexual in nature.
: This painting was so scandalous at the time it was made that it never quite got to be featured prominently in any showings until the 2010s. -
Tom of Finland, Sailor's Dream, 1959, graphite on paper, 7.5x10.8inches, David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles, California.
: Tom of Finland (Touko Laaksonen) is a major influence on queer art today, especially in the gay community for his raunchy, unapologetically homosexual art.
: Many of his artworks showed off the different aspects and fashions of gay culture that he grew up around and with and how they have evolved since.
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Francis Bacon, Portrait of George Dyer Crouching, 1966, oil on canvas, 78x58inches, private collection.
: George Dyer was Bacon's lover, and during their relationship he struggled with drug and alcohol abuse and eventually took his own life in 1971.
: This painting subtly hints at this with the figure (presumably Dyer) staring into the abyss in the center of this circular couch. -
Queer Art also seeks to transform the current cultures and improve the attitudes people have towards queer people.
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Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Untitled (Loverboy), 1989, 1989, sheer blue fabric and hanging device, current installation has finished.
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Gluckstein, Gluck, Hannah. “Medallion.” Obelisk Art History, 1 Jan. 1970, www.arthistoryproject.com/artists/gluck/medallion/.
“Two Figures: Francis Bacon.” Francis Bacon.Com, www.francis-bacon.com/artworks/paintings/two-figures. Accessed 9 Dec. 2025.
“Portrait of George Dyer Crouching: Francis Bacon.” Francis Bacon.Com, www.francis-bacon.com/artworks/paintings/portrait-george-dyer-crouching. Accessed 9 Dec. 2025. -
“‘untitled’ (Loverboy).” Felix Gonzalez-Torres Foundation, www.felixgonzalez-torresfoundation.org/works/untitled-loverboy2. Accessed 9 Dec. 2025.
“Tom of Finland.” David Kordansky Gallery, www.davidkordanskygallery.com/artist/tom-of-finland/featured-works?view=slider#10. Accessed 9 Dec. 2025.