As London celebrates Pride Month, In Plain Sight arrives in Soho as a powerful new exhibition exploring queer identity through contemporary art, design and culture. Curated by writer, broadcaster and LGBTQ+ advocate Jack Guinness, the landmark showcase brings together internationally acclaimed artists and emerging talent to celebrate LGBTQ+ creativity, resilience and community. Presented by My Beautiful City in partnership with Studio Iron, the exhibition runs from 1–7 July 2026 at The Painting Rooms, offering a timely reflection on the importance of visibility, representation and the enduring power of art to shape more inclusive futures.
Conceived as an immersive journey through different facets of queer experience, In Plain Sight unfolds across a series of interconnected spaces exploring themes of awakening, desire, chosen family, nature, reintegration and joy. Visitors are invited to reflect on identity, intimacy, memory, freedom and belonging through painting, sculpture, photography, installation, performance and design.
The exhibition features works by Tom of Finland, Nick Knight, Luke Edward Hall, Jonathan Baldock, Chris Levine, Andrew Salgado, IB Kamara, HARDSTYLE, Bernardo Martins, Joe Sweeney, Talia Golchin, Henry Holland, Oda Jaune, Kouros Maghsoudi, Vidar Logi, Robin Hunter Blake, Felix Chesher and many others, creating a dialogue between internationally recognised artists and some of today’s most exciting emerging creative talent.
Several key works act as emotional anchors within the exhibition, tracing a journey from remembrance and activism to visibility, love and hope.
One of the exhibition’s emotional centrepieces is a special presentation of the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt, one of the most significant community artworks to emerge from the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Presented alongside an oil-on-linen painting by emerging London artist Felix Chesher, generously loaned by Sir Elton John and David Furnish, the works create a poignant dialogue between remembrance, activism and contemporary progress.
Originally commissioned by Elton John and David Furnish after discovering Chesher’s work, the painting reflects on the transformative impact of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and the extraordinary advances made in HIV prevention. Together, these works acknowledge the legacy of the epidemic while celebrating visibility, education, compassion and hope for future generations.
Further enriching the exhibition is a striking photograph by Nick Knight, generously loaned by SHOWstudio, depicting acclaimed fashion designer Gareth Pugh and his husband Carson McColl sharing an intimate kiss. Atonce deeply personal and universally resonant, the work celebrates love, commitment and visibility—qualities that lie at the heart of In Plain Sight. The photograph carries an additional layer of significance through Knight’s longstanding friendship with the couple. Beyond creating the portrait, he also played a deeply personal role in blessing Gareth and Carson’s wedding ceremony, making the work a poignant expression of chosen family, enduring love and the creative communities that continue to shape contemporary queer culture.
Presented alongside works exploring identity, activism, resilience and memory, Knight’s photograph reminds us that queer love itself remains one of the most powerful acts of visibility. It embodies the exhibition’s central belief that these stories deserve not only to be seen, but celebrated.
Alongside the exhibition, a public programme of talks, performances and cultural conversations will animate the space throughout the week. Highlights include an original performance by artist Yen-Ching Lin within The Painting Rooms’ subterranean gallery, a performance evening by Chadd Curry, and a special conversation between Jack Guinness, founder of The Queer Bible, and author Charlie Porter, discussing Porter’s latest novel Nova Scotia House, the legacy of the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt and the importance of preserving LGBTQ+ histories.
Terry Hart, Partner, My Beautiful City, said:
“As a gay man, In Plain Sight is a deeply personal project. Pride has always meant far more than a celebration
to me; it’s about visibility, community and ensuring that our stories continue to be seen, heard and valued. At a time when LGBTQ+ rights are once again being challenged in many parts of the world, creating spaces that celebrate queer creativity and lived experience feels more important than ever.
Through My Beautiful City, we’ve always believed that culture has the power to bring people together,
challenge perspectives and spark meaningful conversations. With In Plain Sight, we wanted to create an
alternative way to experience Pride—one rooted in art, reflection and connection. By working with Jack Guinness, Studio Iron and an extraordinary group of artists and collaborators, we’ve created a platform that celebrates not only exceptional creative talent, but also the richness and diversity of queer culture.
Bringing together internationally recognised artists, emerging talent and significant works such as the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt allows us to honour our past while celebrating the creativity that continues to shape our future. We didn’t want to create another Pride event; we wanted to create a cultural moment. One that reminds people that queer creativity has never existed on the margins—it has always been woven into the fabric of London, its cultural life and its creative identity. In many ways, that’s what In Plain Sight is about: recognising what has always been there, celebrating it, and ensuring those stories continue to inspire future generations.”
Robin Scott-Lawson, Founder & Partner, My Beautiful City, said:
“The Painting Rooms was conceived as more than a gallery; it was created as a place where art, ideas and people could come together. Hosting In Plain Sight during London Pride feels like a natural expression of that vision and of My Beautiful City’s commitment to creating meaningful cultural experiences that extend beyond the commercial world.
Our ambition was to create an exhibition that is generous, thought-provoking and welcoming—bringing together established and emerging artists in a way that encourages conversation across generations and communities. By working with Jack Guinness, Studio Iron and an extraordinary group of artists and collaborators, we’ve created a platform that celebrates not only exceptional creative talent, but also the richness and diversity of queer culture.
We hope visitors leave feeling inspired, connected and curious. If In Plain Sight encourages people to see familiar stories through a different lens, discover a new artist or simply spend time reflecting on the importance of visibility and belonging, then we’ve achieved exactly what we set out to do.”
Jack Guinness, Curator, said:
“Queer culture has always found ways to make itself visible, often in spite of the world around it. This exhibition celebrates that creativity, resilience and imagination by bringing together artists whose work reflects the richness and diversity of LGBTQ+ experience. It’s an invitation to look more closely, celebrate one another and recognise the stories that have always been hiding in plain sight.”
Isamaya ffrench, Founder, Studio Iron, said:
“Throughout my career, creatively supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community has always been incredibly important to me. So much of what has inspired my work across beauty, art, fashion and film has come from queer culture and the remarkable people shaping it.
Creating space for underrepresented voices has been central to everything I’ve built—from Dazed Beauty to ISAMAYA and now Studio Iron—because I believe it is those perspectives that continue to move culture forward and create the conditions for a more authentic next generation of artists and creatives.
To champion both emerging and established artists and designers whose work embodies the spirit of Pride is deeply meaningful. Studio Iron exists to create space for bold creative voices, and partnering with In Plain Sight is a celebration of the talent, resilience and imagination that continue to define queer culture today.”IN PLAIN SIGHT runs from 1–7 July 2026 at The Painting Rooms, 1–5 Flitcroft Street Soho, London WC2H 8DH
