Pride Art Exhibition | June 4–6, 2026 | Coral Gables United Church of Christ
Produced in partnership with Gay in the Gables
Opening Reception: June 5th 2026, 6pm - 9pm | Free & Open to the Public
3010 Desoto Blvd, Coral Gables FL, 33134
The Photography inspired installation transforms the iconic sanctuary into a gallery space, offering an immersive encounter with Florida Queer artist's and their work. Photographic and visual practices have been brought into dialogue with a historic place of worship to explore how art in religious institutions can create visibility, acceptance, and belonging.
“This exhibition is more than art, it’s a declaration that LGBTQIA+ lives, stories, and spirituality belong at the center of our shared community. Coral Gables has been ready for a defining Pride Month cultural moment, and The Reach of Light brings together artists, faith, and community to foster dialogue, expand visibility, and create meaningful connection across our city.” - Steve Littlehale, Founder, Gay in the Gables
Across the works presented, light operates both as material and metaphor. References to halos, iconography, and devotional imagery as seen through a contemporary queer lens, invite viewers to consider how divinity is ascribed. The queer community and the religious community are usually pitted against each other and in this space, they are presented in peaceful coexistence.
"This exhibition is much needed, especially at a time in Florida where we have new legislation that is negatively affecting the LGBTQIA+ community. I'm proud to foster connections between the queer and religious communities, which tend to be at odds with each other. I hope this show can inspire how we can create positive dialogue and promote empathy and love." - David Gary Lloyd, Artist & Show Director
Comprehensive Press Release
Solo Show
Terranova Headquarters, Coral Gables FL
Presented with support by The Corral & Cathers Artist Fund
In Garden Shadows of the Sun, I’ve paired Florida fauna known to exhibit queer behaviors, such as flamingos, with portraits of Florida LGBTQIA+ individuals, creating a symbolic link between natural and human behaviors of queerness.
As it does in nature, queerness has long existed within creative traditions, sometimes only conveyed through coded signifiers. Oscar Wilde’s green carnation flower, for example, was used to symbolically represent queer people, rather than direct representation. In the past, many people chose to depict not queerness itself, but symbols of queerness—mirroring the behavior of many individuals who, under social pressure, presented only acceptable versions of themselves: silhouettes rather than full selves.
Having experienced life both within and outside the confines of concealment, this work affirms that queerness has always been part of the cultural fabric. Sometimes lit plainly, sometimes cast in shadow, but always present.
“Queer South Florida: Faces of Our Community” is an ongoing portrait series celebrating the vibrant, diverse, and resilient LGBTQIA+ individuals who shape South Florida. This collection highlights the beauty, strength, and authenticity of our community. These portraits honor queer visibility and storytelling.
This series investigates the spectacle of Disney as both a site of fantasy and a stage where cracks in the illusion begin to show. The work reveals a surreal distortion within a place meticulously designed for perfection. Mouse ears become a reminder of the hidden infrastructure that fuels the magic, and of the larger forces of consumption and control that sustain it.
I wanted to reimagine the rigid narratives of Disney’s heteronormative kingdom: a boy in princess sneakers, Mickey and Donald locked in an embrace. Even within the “happiest place on earth,” there exist stories that defy conformity and illuminate the full spectrum of human nature.
“LIFE IS COMPOSED OF LIGHTS AND SHADOWS, AND WE WOULD BE UNTRUTHFUL, INSINCERE, AND SACCHARINE IF WE TRIED TO PRETEND THERE WERE NO SHADOWS.”
This series captures the Herndon Climb in Annapolis, Maryland—a ritual of endurance, resilience, and unity. The images frame the plebes’ ascent as a composition of intermingled figures that evoke the grandeur of Renaissance painting. Each body strains, reaches, and supports the next, embodying a collective struggle.
The climb reveals something more complex about the performance of masculinity. Drenched in water, sweat, and grease, the bodies press and slip against one another in a space that merges camaraderie with intimacy and vulnerability. Growing up in Annapolis, I have always seen the climb as more than a display of strength—it is also a study of closeness, touch, and the layered ways we connect within community.
This work explores the dialogue between humans and the natural world. Created during the quiet isolation of 2020, these photographs reflect on the stillness of quarantine and the shifting terrain of mental health in a time of uncertainty. I sought to rediscover a sense of grounding, turning my attention outward to the earth as both refuge and reminder of my place on this planet.
What emerges is a visual journal of scale and perspective. Against the grandeur of the environment, the human figure appears vulnerable, fleeting, and small. Yet in that smallness lies a renewed awareness of the delicate balance between humanity and the natural world. This series becomes not only a record of a specific moment in time, but also a reminder of the enduring need to recognize ourselves as part of, not apart from, the living world.
