“Portraits of Pride” features drawings of notable LGBTQ+ figures in American history by New York artist E. Lesh. 

ALLENTOWN, PA – The Fine Art Galleries at Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center has reopened at its primary location for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The reopening coincides with the opening of “Portraits of Pride,” a series of drawings by New York artist E. Lesh that celebrates LGBTQ+ icons in American history. The exhibit includes portraits of Bayard Rustin, Harvey Milk, Edie Windsor, Marsha P. Johnson, and Larry Kramer, among others.

E. Lesh is a portrait and figurative artist in New York whose work gained popularity on Instagram during the pandemic. His artwork depicts queer subjects, capturing form and expression in as few lines as possible. Lesh is an emerging self-taught artist. He collaborates with life models in New York City and around the world. This is Lesh’s debut solo gallery exhibit, and the works in this exhibit have never been displayed before.

“For a lot of people, we grew up not really knowing a lot about our history,” Lesh said in a recent Instagram Live interview with the center. “I just started collecting some pictures that meant something to me…These were people that inspired me, and…I’m so excited to be able to share them.”

“Lesh’s drawings in ‘Portraits of Pride’ are an homage to how far our movement has come. Seeing this exhibit is both a journey through history and an exquisite exhibit of drawings by a talented New York artist, whose work we are thrilled to introduce to our community,” said Adrian Shanker, executive director of Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center.

The exhibit will be featured at the Fine Art Galleries at Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center (522 W. Maple Street at Bayard Rustin Way, Allentown, PA 18101) from Tuesday, September 14 to Friday, November 12. A special artist reception with E. Lesh will take place at the center on Thursday, September 23 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The center’s current policy is for all visitors to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status. The center is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

About Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center (www.bradburysullivancenter.org) 

Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center provides arts, health, youth, and Pride programs to strengthen and support the LGBTQ+ community across Pennsylvania’s Greater Lehigh Valley.

Information provided to TVL by:
Stephen Jiwanmall
Communications Manager
Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center
 

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