The Gaze - curated by Louis Wise

15 Oct-27 Nov 2021

PV 14 Oct 2021, 6-8pm

Overview

The Gaze is a group show curated by arts writer Louis Wise exploring the queered gaze in both historical and contemporary works. The show will open on Thursday 14 October during Frieze and run until 20 November.

The Gaze was first inspired by the portrait of The Tailor by Moroni in the National Gallery. The tailor’s eyes, looking out directly at the viewer, are mysterious, vulnerable, touching - and sexy. Having discussed the enduring legacy of this portrait with Arturo Galansino, the curator of the Moroni exhibition at the Royal Academy in 2015, Louis explores its connection and presence in more contemporary works - ones which explore the intimate, surprising, even unsettling relation between artist and sitter(s). The rapport is typically, but not exclusively masculine - another area of play. In short, this exhibition seeks to join the dots between contemporary and historical works, uncovering certain traditions - or perhaps just some very fun relationships.

With: AdeY, Soufiane Ababri, James Bartolacci, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Adam Fearon, Alex Foxton, Sunil Gupta, Christopher Hartmann, Florian Hetz, Dan Kane, Cary Kwok, Michael Leonard, Gilbert Lewis, Herbert List, Kate Merry, Oluseye, Prem Sahib, Martin Sekera, Howard Tangye, Wilhelm Von Gloeden, Karlheinz Weinberger. 

Artists