Queer Lens: A History of Photography

Copiously illustrated, Queer Lens explores the transformative role of photography in LGBTQ+ communities from the nineteenth century to the present day.

“An outstanding addition to the growing body of scholarship around queer imagery.”
—Jim Van Buskirk, The Bay Area Reporter
 
“A tour de force. . . . A profound collective story of creativity, joy and resistance.”
—Emma Jacob, Aesthetica Magazine
 
“Potent and inspiring. . . . An empowering photography retrospective that reflects American queer communities.”
—Aleena Ortiz, Foreword Reviews
 
“A deeply significant and beautifully produced volume."
—All About Photo.com
 
“Eye-catching."
—Matthew Wexler, Queerty.com

Photography’s power to capture a subject—representing reality, or a close approximation—has inherently been linked with the construction and practice of identity. Since the camera’s invention in 1839, and despite periods of severe homophobia, the photographic art form has been used by and for individuals belonging to dynamic LGBTQ+ communities, helping shape and affirm queer culture and identity across its many intersections.

Queer Lens explores this transformative force of photography, which has played a pivotal role in increasing queer visibility. Lively essays by scholars and artists explore myriad manifestations of queer culture, both celebrating complex interpretations of people and relationships and resisting rigid definitions. Featuring a rich selection of images—including portraits of queer individuals, visual records of queer kinship, and documentary photographs of early queer groups and protests—this volume investigates the medium’s profound role in illuminating the vibrant tapestry of LGBTQ+ communities.

This volume is published to accompany an exhibition on view at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center from June 17 to September 28, 2025.