Hidden Histories (Part 2)
A Queer and Trans Art Journey

Did you know that Grant Wood, the artist behind American Gothic (1930), was queer? While his famous painting is often seen as a straightforward depiction of rural America, a closer look at Wood’s life reveals a much more complex story. His personal experiences, his close relationships with male assistants and his coded artistic expressions challenge the traditional narrative surrounding his work. As the Whitney Museum’s recent retrospective put it, “Wood’s homosexuality is the code that unlocks the truth to his art.”

A vital continuation of Hidden Histories Part 1, this course offers an inclusive lens on the art of the late 20th and 21st centuries.
 

​In this innovative online art history course, we’ll uncover the hidden histories of queer and trans artists from 1930 onward, exploring how gender and sexuality have shaped art and society across time and across the Atlantic. From Andy Warhol’s subversive pop aesthetics and Robert Rauschenberg’s intimate collaborations, to the bold activism of David Wojnarowicz, the haunting photography of Peter Hujar, and the sensual self-portraits of Catherine Opie, we trace how queer and trans artists have challenged dominant narratives and opened new visual worlds.