Queer Frontiers: Four emerging LGBTQ artists to look out for

ARTIQ takes an innovative approach to the art world, providing a combination of consultancy, rental and art-related experiences, all underpinned by the core principle of paying artists fairly.

Each year they run a charity exhibition, Queer Frontiers, to raise awareness of international queer artists and allies, and to raise money for various causes affecting the LGBTQ+ community and young people.

This year the exhibition is running online, and here, ARTIQ CEO Patrick McCrae gives us his tips on four queer artists to watch out for, and why giving them a platform is so important.

ARTIQ CEO Patrick McCrae

“Social distancing regulations have postponed London Pride until next year, and for queer artists, already underrepresented in galleries and museums, the consequences of continued closures could have serious financial implications,” explains Patrick.

Emilio by Enrico Nagel

“So, even though we can’t have a physical exhibition in Soho for now, we are taking Queer Frontiers online, to ensure the visibility of international queer artists is represented, and to generate funds for a worthy cause, with all sales being split between the artist and East London charity Renaissance Foundation, who support young people living with significant challenges to reach their full potential, a mantra ever more important in this incredibly challenging year.”

Together (Part 2) by Jamie Luke Scoular

The theme of this year’s exhibition is ‘self-expression’, and the selection of artists celebrates and explores narratives including queer survival, race, gender identity and class. Here are some of the international queer artists involved who it’s worth keeping an eye on in the coming months and years. You can view the full exhibition here.

Enrico Nagel

Enrico is a self-taught illustrator based in Paris, whose primary medium of expression is collage. The artist defines his pieces as mysterious and glamorous, with a camp aesthetic. Enrico’s works feature combinations of portraits, floral elements, fashion photography and imagery of everyday objects to create a surreal universe with a twist of humour.

Ernesto by Enrico Nagel

This work, Emilio, combines the stereotypical idea of masculinity together with references to ballet dance.

Phil and Seb by Enrico Nagel

Alia Romagnoli

Alia is an Indian-Italian artist known for her vibrant photographic works. Her practice focuses on female strength, nature and spirituality. These elements all become part of her subjects, often inspired by Indian culture and rituals. She says:

Sparked & Heleena and Nikki by Alia Romagnoli

“I never saw art and images that show the beauty and acceptance of queer people in any shape or form, especially due to the censorship in the media growing up in India. Many of my inspirations come from old Bollywood films and stills from the 1970s and 1980s, as well as maharani portraiture in Indian folk paintings.”

A Marigold Moment by Alia Romagnoli

Jamie Luke Scoular

Another photographic entry to this year’s exhibition is Jamie’s triptych Together. Jamie is a London-based artist whose work is primarily influenced by personal experience with addiction and mental health. Shot in Los Angeles, this piece portrays friends and professional dancers David and Jamal. Jamie asked them to perform a ss series of movements that told the story of their support for each other, and the strength of their relationship. Jamie says:

Together (Part 1) by Jamie Luke Scoular

“As an artist I feel it’s important for me to both represent and explore queerness within my work. It’s also important for me to not just look at my own queerness but the intersectionality of queerness and what that looks like across the entire word.”

Together (Part 4) by Jamie Luke Scoular

Ricardo Peris

Ricardo is a Spanish illustration artist who is studying visual communication at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. As for many young artists, Instagram has been an incredible tool allowing Ricardo to share his work globally and start a career in the art world: with more than 12,000 followers and the recent publication of his book ‘Etica para Julia’, Ricardo describes himself as a ‘creative and positive person, especially motivated by wine, the infinite possibilities of the illustration field and anxiety’.

Rot in Paradise by Phillip Prokopiou

His artwork, Deeper the Tauma, is a lineal drawing inspired by: ‘good sex, traumas and the quote Thank God I was raised Catholic so sex will always be dirty.’

Weight of My Crown and Imago by Phillip Prokopiou

Queer Frontiers will run until 15 July. To view the full exhibition visit queerfrontiers.co.uk.