OUTspoken: Portraits of LGBTQ Luminaries by Roger Erickson (Art Opening at SF City Hall)

Internationally renowned artist, Roger Erickson, returns home for first-ever exhibition featuring portraits of LGBTQ luminaries. On view June 9 – October 16, 2015 Special Event (free and open to the public) DATE: Tuesday, June 9, 2015 Opening Reception with Curator and Artist-led Walkthrough San Francisco City Hall, ground floor Tour: 5 p.m. Reception: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. San Francisco City Hall: Ground Floor Exhibition + North Light Court Banners, plus 40 Downtown Kiosk Posters Roger Erickson, a Bay Area native, is considered one of the world’s foremost music, fashion and celebrity photographers with his work featured in publications such as Vogue (Mexico & Latin America), Entertainment Weekly, Ebony, Esquire Magazine, GQ, Rolling Stone, The Source Magazine, The Advocate and Out Magazine. Over the past six years Erickson has created a substantial portfolio of prominent LGBTQ public figures including actors, dancers, writers, musicians, artists, athletes, activists and clergy. In time for the annual PRIDE celebration, the San Francisco Arts Commission Galleries’ Art at City Hall program will present the first-ever major exhibition of Erickson’s work, featuring newly-commissioned portraits of local LGBTQ creatives. The exhibition features over 80 luminous portraits of celebrities such as Wanda Sykes, Greg Louganis, Rachel Maddow, Edward Albee and Chris Colfer alongside 20 Bay Area LGBTQ notables. As Shifler explains, “For the exhibition, I felt strongly that the body of work needed to highlight local luminaries in context with nationally recognized LGBTQ figures. We commissioned Erickson to photograph members of our creative community that represent emerging talent like curators Melorra and Melanie Green, as well as established forces such as artist James Gobel and musician Shawna Viraga.” The exhibition will also include portraits of author Michelle Tea, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, punk-rockers Jon Ginoli and Lynnee Breedlove, playwright Jewelle Gomez, choreographer Sean Dorsey, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, drag legend Peaches Christ and many more. In addition to artists, Erickson photographed LGBTQ-proud San Francisco Supervisors Scott Weiner and David Campos in their offices at City Hall. OUTspoken: Portraits of LGBTQ Luminaries by Roger Erickson is generously supported in part by Grants for the Arts / San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund.