Leslie Lohman Museum of Art’s Fall 2021 Gala Celebrates Visionary Artist Jeffrey Gibson and Groundbreaking Politician Annise Parker

The 2021 Host Committee includes designer Martine Rose, actor Jason Rodriguez, activist Raquel Willis and designer Hillary Taymour of Collina Strada

As the world's only museum dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ art, the Leslie Lohman Museum of Art is proud to announce their 2021 Fall Gala celebrating visionary artist Jeffrey Gibson (@jeffrune) and vanguard politician Annise Parker (@anniseparker), hosted at The Stranger, in Midtown Manhattan, on Tuesday, November 9th, featuring an online art auction and performances by MX Oops, Devynn Emory, Narcissister and The Illustrious Blacks.

Jeffrey Gibson’s multimedia practice synthesizes the cultural and artistic traditions of his Cherokee and Choctaw heritage with themes from contemporary popular and queer culture. Gibson’s work is a vibrant call for queer and Indigenous empowerment, envisioning a celebration of strength and joy within these communities.

Lot 1, Jeffrey Gibson, PLAYING WITH FIRE , 2021, 11.87" x 11.93" 

“The Leslie-Lohman Museum is a critical space for queer artists and communities. Over the years, it has been a champion of our causes, and continues to support and present some of the most exciting LGBTQ+ artists and delighted to be honored for my artistry amongst my peers. I look forward to working with and seeing the Museum grow as it continues to engage new and existing audiences near and far.” shared artist Jeffrey Gibson.

Annise Parker is the former three-term Mayor of Houston, the first ever openly gay mayor to be elected in the United States. Parker is currently the CEO of The Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing openly LGBTQ+ people who can further equality at all levels of government.

“Being honored by the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art for my work feels like a homecoming for me. I have always known and experienced the power of the arts to inspire minds and foment change. I consider myself a creative at heart, and have been a published poet. I’m proud to receive this honor for the Museum and continue to fight for LGBTQ+ communities to learn about and honor their culture and the arts. It is a powerful tool that can provide us with the vision to chart a path forward in our work, at home, for policy, and the future.” states Annise Parker.

The Museum, under the direction of Executive Director Alyssa Nitchun, assembled these inspiring individuals to honor their achievements and impact in LGBTQ+ communities and contemporary culture.

“Both Mayor Parker and Jeffrey represent the zenith of contemporary LGBTQ+ arts and advocacy. They've shown us the full potential of what representation is capable of when it is grounded in dignity and powered by creativity. At Leslie-Lohman, social and political activism is in our DNA; it’s essential to our radical mission of providing a platform for artistic exploration through multi-faceted queer perspectives. We’re galvanized at bringing these two luminaries together for a night of much needed celebration.” states Nitchun, Executive Director, Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art.

Prior to the Gala, on November 9th, Leslie Lohman Museum of Art will launch an online auction featuring artwork by LGBTQ+ and allied artists hosted on the platform Bidsquare. This year, the Museum will share the revenue with the featured artists, and is partnering with Fairchain to ensure proper title management and future sales of the artworks, benefiting both the artist and the institution.

The Gala will also debut a 2021 Host Committee which will support the institution in using their platform and voices to expand the Museum’s mission. Designer Martine Rose, actor Jason Rodriguez, activist Raquel Willis and fashion designer Hillary Taymour of Collina Strada will serve as this year's body. The event is sponsored by Madre Mezcal.

To purchase tickets to the Fall Gala or to learn more about the Museum, please visit: https://www.leslielohman.org/content/2021-fall-gala.

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About The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art

The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art provides a platform for artistic exploration through multi-faceted queer perspectives. The Museum embraces the power of the arts to inspire, explore, and foster understanding of the rich diversity of LGBTQ+ experiences. LLMA aims to be a home for queer art, artists, scholars, activists and allies, and a catalyst for discourse on art and queerness. With a collection of over 25,000 objects, the Museum hosts major exhibitions and public programs throughout the year, publishes an annual magazine, and maintains a research library of 3,000 volumes. The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art acts as a cultural hub for queer artists, cultural workers, and LGBTQ+ communities as it examines the juxtaposition between art and social justice in ways that provoke thought and dialogue.

LLMA is located at 26 Wooster Street in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City and is open Friday-Sunday, 12-6 pm. The Museum is a nonprofit organization and is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)3 of the IRS Code. LeslieLohman.org @leslielohmanmuseum #LeslieLohmanMuseum

About Annise Parker

The Honorable Annise Parker served Houston for three terms as City Council member, three terms as City Controller, and three terms as Mayor. She is one of only two women to be elected mayor, and the only person in Houston history to have held all three offices. She was the first openly LGBT mayor of a top 10 American city.

In 2010 Time magazine named Mayor Parker one of the 100 most influential people in the world. She has received numerous awards during her career, including Scenic Houston’s Scenic Visionary Award, Guardian of the Human Spirit Award from Holocaust Museum Houston, Guardian of the Bay Award from Galveston Bay Foundation, Rice University Distinguished Alumna.

Parker has championed the arts throughout her career. She served two terms as a board member of Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, was City Council sponsor for creating an arts funding requirement on capital projects, and created the position of Houston Poet Laureate. She was designated Local Arts Leadership honoree by Americans For the Arts and Patron of the Year by Art League Houston in 2015. She currently serves as a member of the Commission on the Arts of The American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Mayor Parker is currently President/CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund and Victory Institute. She was formerly Senior Vice-President and Chief Strategy Officer of BakerRipley. She is a past Fellow at the Doerr Institute for New Leaders and Professor in the Practice at Rice University and a past Fellow of the Institute of Politics at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

In the private sector, Parker spent 20 years working in the oil and gas industry, including 18 years with Mosbacher Energy Company. Parker co-owned Inklings, a lesbian-feminist bookstore for 10 years. Parker and her wife Kathy Hubbard have been together for more than 30 years and are advocates for adoption, with three daughters and a son.

About Jeffrey Gibson

Jeffrey Gibson's artworks make reference to various aesthetic and material histories rooted in Indigenous cultures of the Americas, and in modern and contemporary subcultures. He is a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and is half Cherokee. Jeffrey is represented by Sikkema Jenkins & Co gallery in NYC, Kavi Gupta gallery in Chicago, Roberts Projects in Los Angeles, and Stephen Friedman Gallery in London. His work can be found in the numerous public and private collections including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Denver Art Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Crystal Bridges Museum, and the Wellin Museum, among others.

About Fairchain

Fairchain is a new initiative for equity and trust between artists and the organizations that support them. Fairchain's title management platform facilitates secure exchanges of art while contributing to sustainable revenue streams for artists and their galleries. The goal is to make selling art simple and secure for all parties and to create an art market that is healthier for all involved.

About Bidsquare

Bidsquare is a curated marketplace platform and auction technology service provider. Bidsquare.com is where collectors go to discover and bid on rare and authentic fine art, antiques and design from leading auction houses and dealers. Bidsquare is the destination for individuals and collectors seeking exceptional, one-of-a-kind pieces, with new, unique property added every day. Visit http://www.bidsquare.com to view all auctions.