We love Charles Leslie for changing the perception of gay art…
What started as a private art collection and eventually became a safe haven for gay artists has now evolved into a bona fide cultural institution. Charles Leslie — along with Fritz Lohman — expanded their already-vast collection of art by or about gay people during the 1980s, in part as a repository for those pieces not wanted by the survivors of people who had died of AIDS. Today, Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art (located at 26 Wooster St. in NYC’s SoHo) is an invaluable asset to both the gay community and art lovers of all stripes.
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Already showcasing some of the most exciting exhibitions around, the museum is not resting on its laurels. Leslie and company recently announced a major expansion, which — in the coming year — is slated to nearly double its size. You can learn more about Leslie’s fascinating life in The Art of Looking: The Life and Treasures of Collector Charles Leslie published by Bruno Gmünder this past May. See more of his legacy online at leslielohman.org.
Visit the People We Love page to see our most recent LGBTQ honorees.
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Last modified: October 28, 2019
