Available Space Art Projects was proud to host Queer Pop!, a thought-provoking group exhibition that brought a queer perspective to the enduring legacy of Pop Art. Curated by Leilu Hart and Davey Parks, on view December 2024, with an unforgettable opening reception that included a performance piece and a zine release. This pop-up exhibition celebrated the interplay between identity, community, and the art of cultural expression.

Queer Pop! showcased works that reimagined and redefined the boundaries of Pop Art through a distinctly queer lens. The exhibition’s featured artists: Ann Fuhring, Sam Ganados, Davey Parks, My Boyfriend's Out Of Town, Iulia Filipov-Serediuc, Dan45 Hernandez, Lane Sheehy, Bailey Anderson, Catherine Jaggi, Alisha Kerlin. Ika Pearl, Leilu Hart, Montaysia Yuneek, Adam Benedict, Pop Music Boyfriend, & Elsa Smith explored themes of resistance, identity, and connection, drawing inspiration from both contemporary culture and the nostalgia of their own formative years. By doing so, they highlighted the role of queer narratives within the larger history of Pop Culture—a history often dominated by the voices of mid-century straight, white, male artists.

Through a range of mediums—including painting, sculpture, performance, and mixed media—Queer Pop! invited visitors to reconsider Pop Art as a living, evolving art form rooted in personal and collective identity. The works were not only colorful and bold but also poignant and layered with meaning, offering a window into the experiences and perspectives of today’s queer artists.

Meet the Curators

Leilu Hart, a mixed media artist based in Las Vegas, brings a deeply personal and introspective approach to their work. As a queer femme nonbinary artist, Leilu’s creations delve into themes of relationships, memory, feminism, religion, and trauma. By intertwining these elements, they challenge societal norms and explore the intersections of personal and collective identity. Their work has been exhibited widely across Nevada, and they are currently pursuing a BA in Sculpture at UNLV.

Davey Parks is a Honduran-American artist and production designer who combines his background in film with his passion for immersive art. Based in Las Vegas, Davey’s work draws from his experiences growing up in a multi-racial household and living as a gay man. He uses his skills in set design and construction to craft environments that engage viewers, encouraging them to interact with and reflect on the spaces they inhabit. With several awards for his production design work, Davey seamlessly bridges the worlds of film and gallery art.

The December 20th opening reception was a lively celebration of creativity and community. Attendees were treated to a captivating performance piece that set the tone for the exhibition’s themes of bold self-expression and cultural critique. The release of the Queer Pop! zine further enriched the evening, offering a tangible keepsake that encapsulated the essence of the show. The energy in the gallery was electric as artists, curators, and visitors came together to celebrate the power of art as a medium for resistance and connection.

Supported by Artist Resistance Through Solidarity

Queer Pop! was made possible in part by Artist Resistance Through Solidarity, an organization dedicated to uplifting underrepresented voices in the art world. Their support helped bring this transformative exhibition to life, furthering its mission to challenge societal norms and amplify marginalized perspectives.

Queer Pop! was a celebration of the ways in which queer communities have used Pop Culture to forge connections, express identities, and resist oppression. By bringing together the works of innovative artists and the vision of passionate curators, this pop-up show offered a fresh and vital take on Pop Art for the 21st century.