The Guardian presents "Be Seen," an archival photographic project by Anna Hay and Sophie Willison that documents the lives of LGBTQIA+ individuals connected to the North Sydney council area. The series, commissioned by North Sydney Council for Pride Month 2026, features portraits and personal stories of queer people at various locations around North Sydney, including Berry Island Reserve, the Pickled Possum bar, and private homes. The exhibition runs from 15–30 June at In Transit gallery in North Sydney, NSW.
This project matters because it centers the often-overlooked queer histories and experiences of Sydney's North Shore, a region traditionally associated with suburban conservatism. By pairing intimate portraits with first-person narratives about identity, migration, family, and community, "Be Seen" challenges the dominance of inner-city queer spaces like Oxford Street and affirms the diversity of LGBTQIA+ life beyond the city center. It also serves as a public record of queer resilience and belonging on Cammeraygal land during a time of ongoing debates about LGBTQIA+ visibility and inclusion.