The Tate Museum’s Bold Exhibit

In 2017, London’s Tate Museum staged a blockbuster exhibit that had a ripple effect throughout Britain.  Other small museums and galleries joined the boldness with complementary shows of their own.  The lines to see these exhibits seemed endless.  The topic:   “Queer British Art. ”  The year marked 50 years, a half century, since Britain decriminalized sexual acts between same sex partners and just over 150 years since Britain removed the death penalty for sodomy.  The Tate exhibit was stunning in its sensitive display of art and artifacts.  Produced in an age less progressive in sexual acceptance than today, the art was neither vulgar nor explicit but encompassed a sensitive portrayal of friendships and love.  This class will highlight some of the major works from the exhibit, including some by John Singer Sargent, Francis Bacon and David Hockney.