Portraits Of Gay Icons At The National Portrait Gallery In London

The National Portrait Gallery quotes Sandi Toksvig in their introduction of the exhibition ‘Gay Icons’:

‘How I wish this selection had been available to me when I was young and trying to make sense of my reactions to the world. How inspirational to have had portraits of the great and the good staring out at me telling me that I was not by any measure on my own.’
 
Sandi Toksvig chairred the group of ten selectors, who put the exhibition together. The press release reads.

‘Gay Icons explores gay social and cultural history through the unique personal insights of ten high profile gay figures, who have selected their historical and modern icons.

The chosen icons, who may or may not be gay themselves, have all been important to each selector, having influenced their gay sensibilities or contributed to making them who they are today.

They include artists Francis Bacon and David Hockney; writers Daphne du Maurier and Quentin Crisp; composers Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Benjamin Britten; musicians k.d. lang, the Village People and Will Young; entertainers Ellen DeGeneres, Lily Savage and Kenneth Williams; sports stars Martina Navratilova and Ian Roberts and political activists Harvey Milk and Angela Mason.’

The exhibition is open daily until October 18 2009 at the National Portrait Gallery in London, UK. Read also the blog post about the exhibition Gay Icons on Art Blart.