Toronto Pride 2023: 5 joyful, stunning art exhibitions cover history, reflection and context during Pride month

While Pride rainbows adorn street fests and marches, our T-shirts and shop windows, there are many other ways to celebrate LGBTQ communities this month. For those looking for quieter moments to reflect on personal experiences, or to better understand the history of the event and its political beginnings, several galleries and museums are hosting exhibitions this month offering a variety of artists’ perspectives on identity, politics and joy.

Here are five exhibitions that will fill you up with Pride this month.

JOY. SORROW. ANGER. LOVE. PRIDE.

A celebration of Toronto Pride, from 1970 to Present

Until July 22, Collision Gallery, 18 Wellington St. W.

If you are going to catch one exhibition this month, make it this extensive historical look at Toronto Pride from 1970 to the present day. Launched in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the ArQuives — Canada’s only national-focused LGBTQ archive — the exhibition features archival photographs, print media and other ephemera from the archives and from personal submissions. The goal of the ArQuives is to make this history accessible to all and there’s no better, or more urgent, time to reflect on the past as we collectively look to the future.

YOUphoria; A Pride Showcase

June 21 to July 9, opening reception June 22, Propeller Art Gallery, 30 Abell St.

This group exhibition explores a question that doesn’t get asked enough: “What is your queer joy?” Art from 38 artists working in a variety of mediums responds to that prompt, shifting the narrative to be one of “Beauty, Celebration and Love.”

Uptown Pride Art Exhibition

June 21 to 27, opening reception June 22, Dignam Gallery, 23 Prince Arthur Ave.

This gem of a historical Yorkville building goes modern with a juried contemporary art exhibition by artists from the LGBTQ communities. Organized by the Women’s Art Association of Canada, the exhibit, which will showcase a wide variety of works in painting, drawing, photography, sculpture and more, will offer prizes for best in show.

Gun Roze, MANHATTAN 1982: Revisited

Until June 30, Akasha Art Projects Inc, 204D Carlton St.

A perennial favourite commercial gallery in Cabbagetown is keeping its CONTACT photo festival exhibition by Toronto fine-art photographer Gun Roze on display until the end of the month because visitors just can’t get enough of that Studio 54 vibe. Feel your shoulder pads rise as you take in this stunning collection of vintage New York street scenes Roze shot on Kodak 35-mm colour negative film during the early 1980s. This is Roze’s second exhibition at Akasha of the series, which is also compiled in a fab book.

ROM After Dark: Be Yourself

June 30, 7:30 p.m., Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queens Park

Let’s have a kiki at the Royal Ontario Museum’s glam Friday night event, which offers “experiential energy” with food, music and pop-up performances by the likes of synth-pop duo Moonbeam and electro-disco masters TUSH. After experiencing the virtual pool party and getting your photo snapped by Hugh Elliott, don’t forget to check out the ROM’s other exhibitions, including the art installation “Lifers” by Noelle Hamlyn. While not affiliated with Pride, this show speaks to themes that affect everyone. Hamlyn has repurposed more than 20 life-jackets to draw attention to the destructive environmental effects of the fashion and textile industries. The one-of-a-kind textile sculptures are accompanied by large-scale photos from Geoff Coombs, creating an immersive experience that might make you think twice about buying the latest fast fashion to wear to the parade.

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