In 2025, the High Museum of Art announced the new LGBTQIA+ Photography Centennial Acquisition Initiative. The initiative, led by Assistant Curator of Photography Maria L. Kelly, was a response to the underrepresentation of LGBTQ+ artists in the museum’s photography collection.
Through the initiative, the High has acquired work from five photographers, including the newly added Jess T. Dugan. In an interview with Georgia Voice, Kelly took a closer look at some of the 19 acquired pieces to showcase the diversity and quality of queer photography now owned by the Atlanta-based museum.
Related story: High Museum adds LGBTQ+ photographs to collection with new initiative
Oskar and Zach (embrace)
Self-portrait with mom (embrace)
Jess T. Dugan, 2020, 2024
These two photos by Jess T. Dugan are the newest additions to the High Museum’s LGBTQ+ photography acquisitions. Dugan is a photographer, writer, and multi-disciplinary artist who is known for their portraits taken in outdoor lighting or glowing, intimate indoor spaces.
The two works, part of the five total Dugan pieces acquired by the museum, are both subtitled “embrace,” highlighting the intimacy and care evident in their work.
“I like both of these [photographs] together because you can see in the title[s], ‘embrace,’” Kelly said. “This idea of touch and support and care that’s coming through in these photographs is really moving.”
Larry Rée Backstage (III)
Peter Hujar, 1973
This photograph of Larry Rée, one of the founders of the all-male drag ballet troupe Trockadero Gloxinia Ballet Company, is one of five pieces by photographer Peter Hujar acquired by the High Museum. Hujar is best known for his portraits capturing the queer community in ‘70s and ‘80s New York.
“You can see he has the powder in his hand to keep applying it, and he has those gorgeous rhinestones and he looks totally ethereal,” Kelly said of the piece. “He almost already looks like he’s on stage; with the light, the way [Hujar] framed him, he looks like he’s already ready to go. He’s already in full ownership of himself.”
Untitled (Riis)
Naima Green, 2017
Naima Green, a New York-based up-and-coming photographer, centers pleasure in tender photographs capturing her queer community of color. This piece, shot at the iconically queer Jason Riis Park in New York City, is one of five of Green’s works acquired by the High.
“There was this whole sort of bustling scene and people were making this fort out of these flowing scarves,” Kelly said. “It’s the epitome of this safe, queer haven that’s really beautiful and cheerful.”
“Untitled (Riis)” is one of five works by Green acquired by the High.
Aphrodite – ANTI-ICON: APOKALYPSIS
Martine Gutierrez, 2021
The High Museum has acquired “Aphrodite,” part of Martine Gutierrez’ “ANTI-ICON: APOKALYPSIS” series inspired by women in history and mythology. Inspired by Sandra Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus,” the photograph casts Gutierrez in Aphrodite’s origin story.
“I think it’s really interesting because Martine, even if she doesn’t really forefront this in her work, is a trans woman, [and her work asks], ‘What does it mean to then be presenting yourself as the epitome of womanly beauty and desire?’” Kelly said. “It’s just got so many dimensions to it, but it’s also a lovely image in general.”
“Aphrodite” is one of two photos by Gutierrez acquired by the High.
Self-portrait/Cutting contact sheet
Catherine Opie, 1993/2004
Catherine Opie is best known for her ‘90s portraits of queer people sitting in front of richly colored, Renaissance-esque backgrounds. This series of four self-portraits was originally published in 1993 as only the top-left photo, but Opie revisited the photographs in 2004 and republished them as a series.
“She’s facing away in front of this tapestry that feels very Renaissance and lush,” Kelly said. “But then carved into her back are two stick figures of women holding hands. There’s a house on a hill, there’s the sun coming out behind the clouds, and it’s just viscerally giving you this sense of longing that she had for a family of her own and a safe space of her own.”
“Self-portrait” is one of two pieces by Opie acquired by the High.
Cropped Portrait of Ellen and Walter Auerbach
ringl + pit, 1930
While not purchased with funds from the LGBTQIA+ Photography Centennial Acquisition Initiative, this portrait was gifted in support of the initiative by Adair White and Dr. Joe B. Massey. Grete Stern and Ellen Auerbach made up the Germany-based photography duo ringl + pit. The professional partnership was short-lived, as the queer Jewish women had to flee Nazi Germany only three years into their partnership.
The gifted piece is a rare cropped version of “Ellen and Walter Auerbach,” a portrait of one of the artists and her husband.
“[In the original], you get the sense of the two [subjects] and where they are,” Kelly said of the piece. “[In the cropped version], it really reduces completely just to forms: you see the stripes, you see the dots, his hand on his head. It all of a sudden breaks down to its base visual forms and feels like everything’s moving around a little bit in a dreamlike fashion around him.”
Related story: New ‘BUGS!’ art exhibition opens at GSU Perimeter College
Works by Gutierrez and Opie were just removed from view at the High Museum. There are not yet any public plans for any of the works acquired through the LGBTQIA+ Photography Centennial Acquisition Initiative to be exhibited, but a video by Dugan will be on loan at the High for a forthcoming exhibition about photography and memory.
To keep up with the High Museum’s current and upcoming exhibitions, visit the museum’s website.
