Legends of Drag: Portraits by Harry James Hanson and Devin Antheus

 

Artists Harry James Hanson and Devin Antheus, who grew up in the Milwaukee area, traveled coast-to-coast over four years, visiting sixteen cities to meet and photograph the legendary entertainers featured in the exhibition. Hanson and Antheus produced stunning portraits of eighty-one queens shot on location and styled with unique floral elements. While drag portraiture commonly situates performers on stage or in the studio, Legends of Drag spotlights their embodied divinity out on the street. Each photograph is a collaboration between artists and model, who jointly selected the location, styling, and blooms. Twenty-three portraits will be on display, including local queens: Christina Chase, BJ Daniels, Shannon Dupree, Ruthie Keester, The Sugarbaker Twins, and Karen Valentine.

The exhibition is on view May 27–August 21, 2022 at the Museum of Wisconsin Art’s downtown Milwaukee satellite location, MOWA | DTN. An opening reception will be held on Friday, May 27, 6:00–8:00. A robust list of exhibition-related activities including a drag show and talks can be found on wisconsinart.org.