Queer Art: Gemma Rolls-Bentley In Conversation with Talk Art

Queer Art: Gemma Rolls-Bentley In Conversation with Talk Art

Plus After Party

Saturday 18 May 2024

In Conversation 5:00pm - 7:00pm | After Party 7:00pm - 10:30pm

About the event

Join author and curator, Gemma Rolls-Bentley and Talk Art's Russell Tovey and Robert Diament for a live Talk Art show, book signing and afterparty at Turner Contemporary.

Attendees are invited to join us in the Foyle Rooms at Turner Contemporary for a live recording of Talk Art with hosts Russell Tovey and Robert Diament and author and curator Gemma Rolls-Bentley to discuss her exciting new book Queer Art.

Attendees will be offered an exclusive 20% discount to purchase the book, with the author available for book signings at the event.

After the In Conversation and book signing, the show continues with an afterparty and a fantastic lineup of DJ's presented by Margate Pride: Amy Zing, Mia Grimehouse and CAMP: Jess Hall and Friend of CAMP Vic Lentaigne. This is an event not to be missed!

About Queer Art

Celebrate the LGBTQI+ community with this vivid collection of artworks that charts queer voices from around the world.

The twentieth century saw key shifts for the LGBTQI+ community across the western world: from the Stonewall uprising to the first pride parades and homosexuality law reforms. The years following these milestone moments have seen queer life face new challenges, celebrations, injustices and liberations.

As ever, this journey has been closely mapped by art and culture. Artists working across all mediums – from painting, performance, digital and beyond – have captured key moments, from the HIV/AIDS crisis and the rise of drag, to marriage equality and the fight for trans liberation. The artists include:

• Andrew Logan, sculptor and founder of the Alternative Miss World party
• Leading artists David Hockney, Nicole Eisenmann and Zanele Muholi
• Late greats Greer Lankton, Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon and Tom of Finland
• Pioneers of Queer Cinema Derek Jarman and Sir Isaac Julien
• Ground-breaking photographers Nan Goldin, Ajamu X, Wolfgang Tilmans and Catherine Opie
• Contemporary art stars Sin Wai Kin, Zackary Drucker and Clifford Prince King

With nearly 200 artworks selected by leading LGBTQI+ curator Gemma Rolls-Bentley, this book mixes the high-brow with the low, gallery stalwarts with Instagram stars, and the racy with the fabulous. This is a unique celebration of queer life – a must-have for the LGBTQI+ community, art lovers and anyone interested in the culture surrounding queer identity.

About Gemma Rolls-Bentley

Gemma Rolls-Bentley has been at the forefront of contemporary art for almost two decades, working passionately to amplify the work of queer artists and provide a platform for art that explores LGBTQIA+ identity. She curates exhibitions, builds art collections, and leads projects internationally. Most recently she curated the group exhibition Dreaming of Home at Leslie Lohman Museum of Art in NYC and the Tom of Finland Art & Culture Festival in London. She curated the ‘Brighton Beacon Collection’, the largest permanent display of queer art in the UK. Gemma is a visiting lecturer at the Royal College of Art and she has sat on the boards of numerous organisations and charities that support diversity in the arts.

About Talk Art

Actor Russell Tovey and gallerist Robert Diament host Talk Art, a podcast dedicated to the world of art featuring exclusive interviews with leading artists, curators & gallerists, and even occasionally their talented friends from other industries like acting, music and journalism. Listen in to explore the magic of art and why it connects us all in such fantastic ways. 

The DJs

About Amy Zing

Amy Zing is a co-founder and director of Margate Pride and POW Thanet festival. She co-founded queer collectives Sink The Pink, East Creative and Mighty Hoopla. In 2016 Amy co-founded Margate Arts Club and OUT Margate, an LGBTQ+ youth club. In 2022 Amy and Sink The Pink co-founder Glyn Fussell won the Community Award at the Attitude Awards.

Amy has been DJing disco and pop bangers across festivals and clubs for 20+ years.

About Mia Grimehouse

Mia Grimehouse has been putting on parties for 20+ years including cult trash film events The Amy Grimehouse, as well as injecting queer culture into UK institutions. Now Director of Margate Pride platforming queer arts while fighting for equality and justice.

About Jess Hall

Jess Hall is one of the proud owners of CAMP - a local queer bar and community space where we run a year-round programme of inclusive events and parties. "We will be bringing the BIG DYKE ENERGY playing queer pop and nostalgic trance anthems."

About Vic Lentaigne

Vic is a (very) queer photographer and director who moonlights as a DJ. Their eclectic mix of music ranges from HI-NRG to 80s new wave, with soulful melodies and, of course, the occasional club classic thrown in.

Event Date & Time

Saturday 18 May 2024

In Conversation: 5:00pm - 7:00pm | After Party 7:00pm - 10:30pm

Accessibility

• The gallery is wheelchair accessible with an outdoor ramp and lift serving both floors.
• Wheelchairs and portable stools are available for visitors. Please contact us ahead of your visit, or speak to a member of staff upon arrival if you would like to use one.
• Large print text, magnifying sheets and audio versions of exhibition texts are available. Ask a member of staff for more information.
• We welcome guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs in the gallery.

For more information on accessibility, please visit: turnercontemporary.org/accessibility

For access support please contact us ahead of your visit:

access@turnercontemporary.org | 01843 233 025 (operated daily 10am – 5pm)

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Free Digital Guide

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Guidance for visiting

Cancellations

If you are unable to attend your time slot for any reason, please be considerate to other visitors and cancel your booking so that we can enable others to visit.