MR/QD In The News

I’ll Be Your Mirror – Reflections of the Contemporary Queer

Please direct all press inquiries to Alexander Galan of VIDOUN at ag@vidoun.com

“Art is a mirror. It shows. It reflects. It embodies self-recognition and affirms presence.”
— patrick burton

PBS NEWS HOUR, June 27, 2024

Detroit showcases queer art in pioneering exhibition

hyperallergic.com, June 23, 2024

Five Highlights From Detroit’s Queer Art Biennial

With more than 180 artists, I’ll Be Your Mirror shows the depth and range of the city’s creativity as well as its diverse LGBTQ+ community.

Mavado Charon | Fire, Fire, Our Brutal Lover (Feu, Feu, Notre Amat Brutal), 2021

“From the first queer art biennial, to exhibitions highlighting LGBTQIA+ icons such as John Waters and Mickalene Thomas, art institutions around the world are celebrating Pride”

candgnews.com, June 18, 2024

Artist’s work speaks to unity and identity

“Carl Demeulenaere, of Grosse Pointe City, has four pieces that are on view at the Elaine L. Jacob Gallery on the Wayne State University campus in Detroit. For WSU grad Demeulenaere, the placement seems especially ideal.”

Bre'Ann White | Deity II, 2015

Detroit Free Press, June 6, 2024

Citywide LGBTQ+ art exhibition celebrates Pride Month with more than 800 works

In celebration of Pride Month, a citywide display of LGBTQ+ art is on view for the entire month of June, spanning a nearly a dozen celebrated galleries.

“It’s a way for somebody who isn’t out in their everyday life to come out and be with other gay, lesbian, bi and trans individuals so they can experience and start to build that comfort,”
— Dave Wait, Motor City Pride

Benjamin Fredrickson | Telfar Clemens, 2019

“It’s wonderful to see initiatives supporting queer art and artists taking place outside the usual epicenters of New York and LA, where there are traditionally fewer frameworks in place for exhibiting queer art,”
— Alyssa Nitchun, Director, Leslie Lohman Museum

artnet.com, June 7, 2024

An Anti-Corporate, DIY Spirit Uplifts Detroit’s Queer Art Biennial

Detroit reclaims Pride. 180 artists are featured in "I'll Be Your Mirror," this year's edition of the Mighty Real/ Queer Detroit biennial. Here's our on-the-ground take.

Gordon Price | Urban Industrial, 2021

Cultured Mag, June 3, 2024

This Month, Investigate the Queer Lens With 9 Must-See Exhibitions

This year’s theme pulls from art’s capacity to act as a mirror to our own identities, desires, and more. Among the laundry list of notable names involved are Clifford Prince King, Harmony Hammond, Gordon Price, and Lyle Ashton Harris.

Tylonn Sawyer | Forever Young

Pride Source, May 29, 2024

How Detroit Artist Tylonn Sawyer is Remembering Pulse Nightclub Victims During Pride Month Exhibition

Artforum, May 29, 2024

DETROIT TO HOST
WORLD’S FIRST QUEER INTERNATIONAL ART BIENNIAL

The event represents an expansion of MRQD’s inaugural biennial, held during Pride Month 2022.

“The biennial boasts a robust performance program, featuring Christeene, Stephanie Crawford, Linda Simpson, Pamela Sneed, and Cherry Wood; the Detroit Institute of Arts’ theater will host a film screenings series curated by Adam Baran.”
— ARTFORUM

The Art Newspaper, May 28, 2024

World’s first queer art biennial launching in Detroit

Local non-profit Mighty Real/Queer Detroit has turned a citywide endeavour into the world’s first queer art biennial

“We hope to serve as a beacon to young queer kids and foster a sense of belonging and empowerment. We can do more than a parade during Pride Month.”
— patrick burton

David Greene

“Events throughout the month include ecologically conscious tarot deck readings, portrait therapy, a panel about art and activism, documentaries and a performance tribute to queer historical icon “Big Mama” Thornton.”
“[queer shorts] eschew the mainstream narratives, the sort of mainstream way of storytelling. And that’s what I love about these films.”
— Adam Baran

Axios Detroit, May 23, 2024

Detroit LGBTQ+ art exhibition returns to 11 galleries

A multi-gallery exhibition of local and national LGBTQ+ artists is returning for Pride Month after its debut in 2022.

John Criscitello | FGGT, 2021

artnet.com, Wed, May 1, 2024

An International Biennial Devoted to Queer Artists Is Coming to Detroit

The artists come from as far as Beijing, and the show stretches across a dozen venues.

“Our goal is to highlight the role of art in achieving personal visibility and social connection”
— patrick burton

On view at the CARR center: Wayne Coe | Art Lovers, 2024

2022 installation view of “Mighty Real / Queer Detroit” at the Scarab Club, Detroit Art Review

Highlights from 2022
Mighty Real / Queer Detroit Press

Carl Demeulenaere | The Past In Myth and
Maura Latty | Thank You For Being Friends, The Toll Of Isolation On My Social Life

“It was a monumental undertaking that involved so many people. At the end of the day, it’s a beautiful salute to community.”
— Treena Flannery-Erickson
“... the abundance and excellence of the work no doubt ended up being a heart-warming and life-affirming experience for the LGBTQ+ arts community.”
— K.A. Letts

2022 Installation | Photos: Danielle Eve

“This is really one of the most unifying kinds of exhibitions we’ve ever had”
— Dalia Reyes
“All the conflicting feelings and crazy dreams the pandemic brought forth were channeled into somewhat surreal images”
— Matthew Papa
“It’s historical in many respects, It’s 77 years of queer art from 1945 to the present … It’s pretty amazing when you look at it”
— patrick burton

Wayne Koestenbaum | Blue Stranger with Mosaic Background, 2011