Queer Joy is an exhibition of 50 striking portraits of Queer people captured by ten emerging LGBTQIA+ photographers from the UK and abroad. The striking images shine a light on the unfiltered self-expression that is vital to the Queer community.
The portraits will be exhibited on the benches in Granary Square, Pancras Square and Battlebridge Place as part of King’s Cross’ Outside Art Project.
Exploring the concept of Queer Joy – the deep happiness that brings warmth and purpose to Queer lives – the Queer Joy exhibition is part of a collaboration between Queer Britain, GAY TIMES, Getty Images and Skittles that hopes to help millions of people to ‘See the Rainbow’ by working to improve LGBTQIA+ representation in photography.
The project is part of a multi-year campaign that aims to fill a LGBTQIA+ shaped hole in the archives, where Queer images were often erased, omitted or non existent. Queer Joy will help to ensure that the archives of tomorrow are as diverse, representative and inclusive as they should be.
This year, the group is working with 10 emerging LGBTQIA+ photographers, selected following a nation-wide search in 2022, to try and capture all identities in 1000+ images, to help tackle stereotypes in media and better represent the vibrant and dynamic LGBTQIA+ community within the UK.
The photographers will be attending key moments and events across the year to capture Queer Joy and experiences, with some of their images included in the exhibition.
For Pride Month, we’re lighting King’s Cross in rainbows. The iconic tunnel that connects King’s Cross and St. Pancras stations with Pancras Square will be rainbow striped, as will Esperance Bridge and the Granary Square Fountains.
While you’re here, pay a visit to Queer Britain, an LGBTQIA+ charity and the UK’s first museum of Queer culture. Based in Granary Square, Queer Britain boasts a fascinating archive as well as the world’s first virtual reality museum dedicated to celebrating the stories and artwork of LGBTQIA+ people and preserving queer personal histories.
The museum opened last June and won the Museum Association’s Best Small Museum of the Year Award with their inaugural exhibition, ‘We Are Queer Britain’.
Open from Wednesdays to Sundays from 12 – 6pm. Entry is free but donations to Queer Britain’s charity will always be gratefully received.
Battle Bridge Place, Pancras Square and Granary Square
Kings Cross,
N1C 4DQ
1 June - 14 Sept
