The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
Creative Rage
Saturday 28 April – Sunday 2 September
Creative Rage is a group show of artists exploring themes of bravery, aggression and trailblazing combative non-conformity. The three generations of artists in this exhibition are proud, committed and uncompromising members of the progressive LGBTQ artistic community and create work that is powerful and flamboyant, liberating and often witty as well as visually startling.
Frustration, fear and anger are common feelings most LGBTQ artists have experienced at certain points during their lifetimes. The work shown examines the emotional rage that led to the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality and the liberalisation felt after the change in the law. It also reflects the anxiety of AIDS in the community, the sense of loss and the bravery of coping with HIV.
This provocative exhibition also illustrates the process by which a constant questioning and subversion of accepted societal norms fuels creativity and has the power to potentially change repressive and discriminatory laws and will if necessary even break them.
Creative Rage includes important historical paintings from private collections by gay visionaries Derek Jarman and Trojan, as well as contemporary works by artist whose ages range from 30 to 70 using a variety of mediums including painting, photography, print and ceramics.
Exhibition free to Artfund members.