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“Queer as Comics”
BOB ROSS Satyr (From Gay Comix #10), 1986. San Francisco © Burton Clarke
“Comics have a long tradition of being subversive: not solely art or literature but a combination of both to make their messages captivate readers. They lend themselves perfectly to Queer themes as brilliantly showcased in the exhibition.”
–Paul Gravett, Curator
For the first time in the UK, Queer as Comics will celebrate 80 years of LGBTQ IA+ comics, including previously unseen original works by more than 60 artists from around the world ranging from underground creators to influential icons, including Tove Jansson, David Shenton, Rupert Kinnard, Alison Bechdel and Tom of Finland.
The Centre will open with a landmark exhibition depicting stories of fantasy, identity and resistance told across time by Queer comic-makers. Spanning the 1940s to present day, this major exhibition of LGBTQIA+ comic-making and will feature rarely displayed original artwork from comics, strip cartoons, graphic novels and zines chronicling the significance of comics for Queer art and literature.
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- Bob was sitting at his place flicking magazines, when the doorbell rang. What kind of peddler could it be this time?
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- Two sturdy guys were standing at the door. “We have a little errand.”
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- Before Bob even knew what was going on, the guys were already inside and shut the door. “Now you obey us nicely and undress.”
TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920–1991) Initiation Into the Brotherhood, 1946
Pen & ink and gouache on paper, 5.75” x 4.25”
Tom of Finland Foundation Permanent Collection,
Courtesy David Kordansky Gallery
© Tom of Finland Foundation
While Tom’s bold, hypermasculine style is iconic today, in 1940s Finland his homoerotic comics remained unpublished for years, shared only in secret among friends. These panels come from one of those clandestine works. Enjoy Tom’s place in Queer comic history.
Discover stories of fantasy, identity and resistance, as told by Queer comic-makers.
RUPERT KINNARD Betterment of Parental Guilt, 1988. Cathartic Comics. © 2025 Rupert Kinnard
For decades, Queer artists have used comics to share impactful stories, often in defiance of censorship. The exhibition reveals how comics have provided a voice for Queer communities. Artwork on view addresses state power, discrimination and bold visions. Today, Queer creators continue to expand the medium through ambitious graphic novels, self-publishing and more.
Wednesday to Sunday: 10a–5p
If you have an upcoming erotic art event you would like to have listed here, please use our Events Page Submission Form. We appreciate at least 6 weeks advance notice.