Queer Histories of Southern California

Q+ Art, “Queer Histories of Southern California,” celebrates the region’s rich yet often overlooked legacy of LGBTQ+ art and activism with two insightful talks by pioneering artists—Ron Athey and this year’s Q+ Art Keynote Awardee, Judy Baca.Through their transformative work, Ron and Judy have made a lasting impact on Southern California at the intersection of identity, community, and place.

Each artist will share reflections on their unique artistic practices, exploring how their work has both influenced and been shaped by the region’s ever-evolving cultural landscape. Following the talks, join us for a Meet the Artist reception.

2:00 PM

Conversation: Ron Athey and Alex Fialho

Emerging from the intersection of punk and club cultures, AIDS activism, and art in L.A., Ron Athey has been making provocative performances that explore themes of religious ritual, sexuality, and identity for over four decades.

Alex Fialho is a curator and art historian who has worked to preserve and highlight histories of the ongoing AIDS pandemic. Fialho is a PhD candidate at Yale University in the History of Art and African American Studies, a 2024–2025 Predoctoral Fellow at the Getty Research Institute, and the former Programs Director at Visual AIDS.

Ron Athey Photo by Paul Mpagi Sepuya
Alex Fialho photo by Viva Ruiz

3:00 PM

Distinguished Keynote Award 2025: Judy Baca

The Q+ Art Keynote Award is given to an established artist of exceptional talent whose work has had a positive impact on LGBTQ+ representation in the arts. This year the museum honors Judy Baca, celebrated for her work in community-based mural projects realized throughout Southern California since the early 1970s. Baca’s monumental mural The Great Wall of Los Angeles, initiated in 1976 and realized with the participation of over 400 young people, tells a history of California from the perspective of marginalized people and includes one of the earliest public monuments to gay rights in the United States.

4:00 PM

Meet the Artists

Join us for a meet-and-greet with Judy Baca, Ron Athey, and Alex Fialho.