4 October 2014 – 15 February 2015
Open daily
Free
A new acquisition for the Walker Art Gallery takes the centre of a stunning collection of work by leading American photographer, Catherine Opie. The Gang: Photographs by Catherine Opie (1990) is a major part of Liverpool’s Homotopia Festival 2014.
The iconic image The Gang, presented to the Walker by the Contemporary Art Society with the support of the gallery, gives the exhibition its name and is one of 25 photographs by Opie on display. It features Opie’s friends photographed together in a humorous pose that is defiant, yet tender.
Catherine Opie says, “I made The Gang after individually shooting them all for the 1991 body of work, Being and Having. It was great to see them with their moustaches and I couldn’t resist making some group photos of them… I think it is perfect in celebrating Homotopia as this work was made 20 years ago, in relationship to visibility within my own queer community. It is good to celebrate and reflect on equality that has been achieved and celebrated as well as the fight in regards to homophobia that continues.”
The exhibition comprises both striking black and white and colour photographs taken from 1987 to 2012. The subjects are mostly Opie’s friends from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer community. The body of work is at times explicit and challenging in its content, but also playful and intimate.
The exhibition has been organised with the kind support of the artist, Stephen Friedman Gallery in London and Homotopia.
Part of Homotopia 2014 – download the full programme here
Image credit: The Gang, copyright Catherine Opie, image courtesy Catherine Opie, Stephen Friedman Gallery (London) and Regen Projects (Los Angeles). Presented by the Contemporary Art Society with the support of the Walker Art Gallery 2014.