Celebrate Pride across Europe with art’otel – LGBTQ+ artists offer an intimate look at community experience through photography
As Europe waves the rainbow flag in honour of International Pride this month, leading lifestyle hotel brand art’otel has announced a vibrant travelling photography exhibition that will make its way around all of the brand’s hotels this summer.
“Pride Through the Lens: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Identity and Love” will be a celebration of the diverse and powerful identities within the LGBTQ+ community, offering an intimate look into the lives and experiences of individuals and groups, brought to life through the eyes of five talented photographers, each bringing their own unique perspective from the community themselves.
The programme will feature work from acclaimed artists Joel Rodriguez, Arjan Spannenburg, Ernst Coppejans, Grace Pickering, and Aimee McGhee; each image tells a story of identity, resilience, love, and joy, inviting viewers to celebrate and reflect on the rich tapestry of queer life.
The exhibition of both commissioned works and archive collections will kick off in the newly launched art’otel London Hoxton on Friday 21st June before travelling to art’otel London Battersea, art’otel Amsterdam, art’otel Berlin, art’otel Cologne and art’otel Zagreb throughout June, July and August. Vibrant opening parties, artist talks and other events will also accompany exhibitions across London and Amsterdam, as well as supplementary activities online and on @artotel social media to platform artists from art’otel’s upcoming destination Rome. See the full schedule below.
In an effort to honour the past, celebrate the present, and inspire a future of inclusivity and love, with this brand wide programme, art’otel enhances its reputation as a forward-thinking, culturally engaged brand that puts its guests and surrounding communities first. By hosting the programme across Europe, the brand forges meaningful connections across oceans and brings the LGBTQ+ community and allies together through the powerful medium of art. With hotels that bring art, design, gastronomy & communities together across Europe, spend the summer with art’otel and experience this wonderful exhibition come to life.
This project is underpinned by a desire to give creatives within the community a platform through art, and support chosen causes across European destinations through artwork sales by select artists, where art’otel contributes its share of proceeds to these causes. Guests will also be encouraged to donate to such causes in hotel and via websites too.
Exhibitions within Pride Through the Lens
Celebrating Joy in Resistance by Joel Rodriguez
Joel Rodriguez is a renowned commercial and editorial portrait photographer who produces work that highlights the diverse stories of triumph and struggle within the queer community. He places attention on light and colour, resulting in striking and resonating images. His exhibition focuses on the resilience and activism within the queer community, portraying the social and political resistance that has shaped LGBTQ+ identities and the solidarity it has fostered. The photographs will delve into the personal stories intertwined with historical changes and ongoing struggles for equality, capturing moments of defiance and unity. This exhibition will feature across art’otels in London, Amsterdam & Cologne.
Exploration of identity by Arjan Spannenburg
Focusing on the search for identity and self-expression, Arjan Spannenburg invites viewers to reflect on their own journeys of self-discovery through his introspective work. His exhibition is dedicated to capturing a raw yet tender glimpse into the lives of LGBTQ+ adolescents at a pivotal and uncertain time. Through his lens, we see individuals whose silent plea for support, understanding, and love resonates profoundly with viewers, inviting them to contemplate the balance between vulnerability and self-expression, especially in the context of exploring and affirming their sexual and gender identities. This exhibition will feature across art’otels in London, Amsterdam & Berlin.
A look through by Ernst Coppejans
As a portrait and documentary photographer, Ernst Coppejans uses his art to address discrimination, exclusion, and prejudice. His work, infused with personal resonance, showcases the resilience and diversity of marginalised communities.Currently he has an exhibition on display in New York City delving into the lives of unhoused queer youth in the city, an often forgotten subculture. As the artist comments on the series: “Thanks to the emancipation struggle of the generations before us, LGBTQIA+ people in the Netherlands are – almost – equal to everyone else before the law. But that acquired freedom is fragile. This progress will not automatically endure. There is still discrimination and violence against LGBTQIA+ people. Even in 2024, not everyone accepts that love, gender and sex are fluid. I think it is important – while we still can – to reflect on the rich life experiences of the generations before us. I wanted to capture and share those experiences. How did LGBTQIA+ individuals discover who they were and who they loved in an often ignorant and hostile society? What courage did it take for them to come out and fight for what is just? It was an interesting journey to learn more about a very diverse group of people over seventy. Every encounter was enriching. So many beautiful, moving, happy, inspiring, stunning, crushing, sad, powerful, and heart-breaking stories. Making this series has made me even more aware as a gay man, of the strong and courageous shoulders we stand on.”
This exhibition will feature across art’otels in Amsterdam & Zagreb.
A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Identity and Love by Ernst Coppejans, Arjan Spannenburg and Joel Rodriguez
The largest exhibition of the “Pride Through the Lens. A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Identity and Love” series will take place in Amsterdam where Rodriguez, Spannenburg and Coppejans come together in a group show that examines the intersection of marginalised ethnic cultures and queerness, highlighting the multifaceted nature of identity within the LGBTQ+ community. The photographers offer a nuanced look at how cultural backgrounds influence and enrich LGBTQ+ experiences. This exhibition will come together for a group show at art’otel Amsterdam.
We Both Laughed in Pleasure by Grace Pickering
Grace Pickering (they/them) is a Photographer & Director from Manchester, UK. They have spent their career standing apart from the crowd. “We Both Laughed in Pleasure” is a compelling collection of six photographs and a short film that delves into the vibrant, diverse, and joy-filled trans-masculine community through Grace’s eyes. Documenting this inspiring community over the last 10 years in LA and NY has been enormously influential in Grace’s own gender journey. This exhibition serves as a homage to the trans men who have supported and guided Grace along the way. This exhibition “We Both Laughed in Pleasure” will feature at art’otel London Hoxton with an exclusive screening of Grace’s first feature film with Greatcoat Films titled ‘Soft Lad’.
Queer Nightlife by Aimee McGhee
Aimee McGhee is celebrated for her dynamic images of London’s queer nightlife, capturing the vibrant energy and diverse spirit of the city’s LGBTQ+ scene. Her expert retouching and ability to highlight the beauty in each individual make her work a compelling tribute to the people and culture of queer club life. Her exhibition explores the vibrant subcultures within queer nightlife, from ballroom and drag culture to leather bars and underground scenes celebrating the spaces where LGBTQ+ individuals find joy, expression, and a sense of belonging. This exhibition will be featured at art’otel London Hoxton.
The five artists and the art’otel curators behind this exhibition, Alisa Lisovskaia (Art & Cultural Programme Manager) & Jasmyn Henry, are available for interview.
Key Dates:
Friday 21st June: Newly opened art’otel London Hoxton marks the start of the travelling exhibition with their opening event on Friday 21st June in the art gallery and auditorium, with artist talk by Joel Rodriguez.
Monday 15th July: Arjan Spannenburg travels from the Netherlands for an artist panel talk with Joel Rodriguez at art’otel London Battersea Power Station.
Tuesday 23rd July: To mark the opening of the series’ largest show with 30 works by three artists Joel Rodriguez, Arjan Spannenburg & Ernst Coppejans, art’otel Amsterdam holds its opening party in the art’otel Gallery on the evening of Tuesday 23rd July with the artists, drinks, DJ and more.
Schedule:
| Pride Through the Lens: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Identity and Love | |||
| Dates | Location | Exhibition | Events |
| 21st June – 2nd July | art’otel London Hoxton | Celebrating Joy in Resistance by Joel Rodriguez | 21/06 – Opening event & Joel Rodriguez artist talk |
| 20th June – 2nd July | art’otel London Battersea | Exploration of identity by Arjan Spannenburg | 15th July – Arjan Spannenburg artist talk |
| 3rd July – 17th July | art’otel London Hoxton | Exploration of identity by Arjan Spannenburg | |
| 3rd July – 17th July | art’otel London Battersea | Celebrating Joy in Resistance by Joel Rodriguez | |
| 23rd July – 23rdAugust | art’otel Amsterdam | A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Identity and Love (Group Show with Arjan Spannenburg, Joel Rodriguez, Ernst Coppejans) | 23rd July – Opening Party with artists drinks, DJ, more. Artist talk event to follow |
| 19th July – 29thJuly | art’otel Berlin | Exploration of identity by Arjan Spannenburg | |
| 19th July – 29thJuly | art’otel Cologne | Celebrating Joy in Resistance by Joel Rodriguez | |
| 19th July – 29thJuly | art’otel Zagreb | A look through by Ernst Coppejans | |
| 1stAugust – 6thAugust | art’otel London Hoxton | Queer Nightlife by Aimee McGhee | 2nd August – Opening event |
| 7thAugust – 26thAugust | art’otel London Hoxton | Exploration of identity by Grace Pickering | |
