Andrew Durbin's new book, 'The Wonderful World that Almost Was,' is a double biography of painter and sculptor Paul Thek and photographer Peter Hujar. It chronicles their artistic maturation, their open and unapologetic gay relationship, and their central role in defining the 'cool' of the New York creative scene from the 1950s to the mid-1970s, before their deaths from AIDS.
Queere Heilige, große Egos
Andrew Durbin's new biography examines the intertwined lives of artists Peter Hujar and Paul Thek, focusing on their art, desire, and self-staging. The review notes that while the book covers their creative circles—including figures like David Wojnarowicz, Divine, John Waters, and Susan Sontag—it loses sight of the urgent political and social context that animated their work, particularly the AIDS crisis and Reagan-era repression.
The Greek Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, titled "Grecia" and conceived as a drag artist, presents an S&M-inspired installation by artist and architect Andreas Angelidakis. The immersive space features a red neon-lit floor, soft sculptures resembling beanbags, fragmented marble columns wrapped in chains, and souvenirs bearing images of queer artists and the late activist Zak Kostopoulos (Zackie Oh). The pavilion aims to deconstruct the idea of a fixed national identity, exploring themes of queerness, fascism, and historical trauma.
Santa Fe gallerist Daniel Cooney of Daniel Cooney Fine Art discusses his gallery's focus one year after relocating from New York City. In an interview, Cooney explains that while his gallery prominently features LGBTQ artists, its core mission is supporting underrepresented artists broadly—including emerging talents, overlooked older artists, and estates. He notes a continued emphasis on photography, his own background, but also shows other mediums. Cooney expresses interest in featuring more local New Mexico artists but has not yet integrated deeply into the local scene.
The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art has opened "Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art," the largest exhibition of LGBTQ+ African art to date, featuring nearly 60 artworks by 30 queer artists from across Africa and its diasporas. Curated by Kevin D. Dumouchelle and Serubiri Moses, the exhibition was originally scheduled to coincide with WorldPride DC 2025 but was delayed to early winter 2026, shortly after President Donald Trump issued an executive order targeting the Smithsonian for material deemed "divisive ideology," including discussions of gender identity. Museum officials attributed the postponement to budget and fundraising challenges rather than political pressure.
The Other Art Fair has returned to Dallas for its largest and most ambitious edition to date, featuring 135 independent artists—the most ever presented in the Dallas market. The fair, presented by Saatchi Art, transforms Dallas Market Hall into a marketplace where artists sell directly to collectors and art lovers, with highlights including immersive installations, live neurofeedback art, and a special focus on LGBTQ+ artists. A short list of queer artists featured includes Ty Hays, Patricia Juppet, Jake Trujillo, and others, with Christopher Sonny Martinez receiving The New Futures award for first-time exhibitors.
Freshman anthropology student Mia Wallen is hosting a student art exhibition titled “Queer Art, For and By Queer Artists” on May 1 at the St. Louis Virtuoso Collective. The show features works in all mediums by queer artists, with proceeds benefiting Trans Housing Initiative St. Louis, a trans-led organization addressing housing injustices. Wallen, who grew up in a small town with little queer community, conceived the exhibit as her final project to combine her passion for art and LGBTQ rights.
Art VallARTa, an art fair in Puerto Vallarta, has announced a special exhibition titled "Queer Artists Take Center Stage at Art VallARTa for Pride 2026 Exhibition," which will spotlight LGBTQ+ artists during Pride Month 2026. The fair aims to feature works by queer and allied artists, celebrating diversity and inclusion within the visual arts.