Dawn Hoskin – författare

The Short Story of Queer Art offers a fuller picture of the history of art - from the barriers broken and breakthroughs that queer artists have made, to the important contributions to key artistic movements, and the forgotten and obscured artists who are now being rediscovered and reassessed.Simply constructed, the book explores over 40 key works and artists, from across the world and throughout art history, and links them to the most important movements, themes and breakthroughs. An eclectic range of art is featured, including Aubrey Beardsley's The Peacock Skirt, Frida Kahlo's Self-portrait with Cropped Hair, Cecil Beaton's Stephen Tennant in Costume as Prince Charming and Tamara de Lempicka's Autoportrait. Accessible, concise and richly illustrated, the book reveals the connections between different periods, artists and styles, giving readers a thorough understanding and broad enjoyment of the full achievements that queer artists have made with genres that include Classical art, Art Nouveau, Pop art, Street art and Video installations.

The National Trust cares for an extraordinary diversity of cultural heritage created by people who questioned and challenged conventional notions of gender and sexuality. This book brings together a range of these remarkable individuals in a visually sumptuous appreciation of queer creativity, celebrating the cultural contributions of those whose lives did not align with the prevailing expectations of their time.For centuries, queer individuals of every stripe have found ways to translate their perspectives on the world into creative expression. Their stories can be found in the things they have left behind, from paintings, sculpture and fashion to houses, libraries and gardens. Sometimes the stories are expressed with powerful directness, at others they lie hidden beneath the surface, or deliberately in code.The collections of the National Trust form a treasury of these stories, preserved alongside the physical spaces where queer artists lived and worked, and where their ideas and creations were shaped, shared, displayed and discussed. In exploring the shifting political, legal and social landscapes that formed the backdrop to these individuals’ lives, the authors illuminate the wider historical context.Presented in six broadly chronological sections, ranging from Georgian Britain to contemporary creative works, the book concludes with a handy gazetteer of key National Trust places with queer connections.