Discover the comprehensive survey of artist Lyle Ashton Harris’s work at the Queens Museum, showcasing his exploration of Black queer culture and personal identity through diverse media over three decades.
The Queens Museum in New York City is showcasing a comprehensive survey of artist Lyle Ashton Harris’s work titled “Lyle Ashton Harris: Our First and Last Love.” The exhibition is on display until September 22, 2024, and highlights Harris’s career spanning three decades.
His art employs a variety of media—including photographs, collages, and assemblages—to explore themes central to Black queer culture and personal identity. Harris, who grew up in the Bronx and lived for a time in both Tanzania and Ghana, brings a global perspective to his work. Signature pieces such as “Saint Michael Stewart” and “Brotherhood, Crossroads and Etcetera #2” use dramatic self-portraits to comment on racial and sexual identity, while more recent works like the “Shadow Works” series incorporate Ghanaian textiles and archival elements.
The show is organized by Lauren Haynes and Caitlin Julia Rubin and features a catalogue of works that include notebook entries, collages, and multimedia assemblages. This retrospective offers viewers a rich archive of Harris’s accumulated materials and memories, chronicling his life and experiences from a deeply personal viewpoint.
For art enthusiasts interested in contemporary art and social commentary, the exhibition provides an in-depth look at the intersections of identity, family, and culture through Harris’s innovative and thought-provoking pieces.