Invisible to Visible

I’m not missing a minute of this. It’s the revolution!

Sylvia Rivera

Lucy Ash, Gallery 02, entrance Gallery 03

In New York, 1969, everything changed. The Stonewall riots drew a vital line across LGBTIQ+ history. The modern LGBTIQ+ movement sparked to life as Marsha P. Johnson spontaneously threw a ‘shot glass’ at the police. It was the first time the LGBTIQ+ community had fought back against police brutality. The Gay Liberation Front was formed. Demand for gay rights took on a new impetus.

A year later the first Pride parade took place in Christopher Street NYC. In 1972 the first UK Pride was held in London. 50 years on, Pride in London has grown to 1.5 million and UK Black Pride is the biggest black pride in the world.

The portraits in this gallery represent people who have touched Ash’s life and brought about change for all of us. Activists, artists, and friends. As in the previous room, there are artworks from the Gallery’s collection. These are artists Ash particularly wanted to celebrate and whose work and authenticity has inspired her: Gilbert and George, Maggi Hambling, David Hockney, and Patrick Procktor.

The LGBTIQ+ community’s transition from invisible to visible has been made possible because the people in this gallery have lived visible lives, unashamed of who they are.

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