The Art of Drag

Drag art from a historical perspective

Drag is everywhere. Think of the popular TV program RuPaul's Drag Race and Eurovision Song Contest winner Conchita Wurst. But it is certainly not new; in Greek tragedies, drag was already practised and theatrically mocked stereotypical gender roles.

It is also a popular subject for artists. Hartjesdag, the originally Haarlem holiday on which men dressed as women and vice versa, was often painted around 1900. Some artists themselves did cross-dressing or drag, such as Ferdinand Erfmann (1901 – 1968), or made portraits of people who could be themselves through these forms of expression, such as Kees van Dongen (1877-1968). The exhibition also includes contemporary artworks by Sin Wai Kin, Sarah Lucas, Gillian Wearing and Yamuna Forzani, among others, that break with expectations and stereotypes of masculinity and femininity.

Come see how artists express their love for drag in ways that are still often met with opposition. The Art of Drag is a celebration of being yourself, freedom and exuberance.