Transamerica/n: Gender, Identity, Appearance Today

Transamerica/n: Gender, Identity, Appearance Today celebrates the authentic, beautiful, and vulnerable voices of contemporary, North American artists who express their true selves through a broad gender spectrum. Some of the artists identify as LGBTQ+, and some do not. The art in Transamerica/n speaks to family, community, self-discovery, and ultimately identity. Artists’ experiences are highlighted as part of the McNay’s dual commitment to artistic excellence and community impact.

Transamerica/n is the country’s first broad survey of contemporary artwork from across North America to explore the construction of identity through gender and outward appearance. Transformative, transcendent, and trans-historical, Transamerica/n breaks down conventional boundaries and celebrates a spectrum of gender identity through individual presentation and societal perception. Transamerica/n showcases artists from underrepresented backgrounds in the United States, Mexico, and Canada who are deeply committed to exploring shifting definitions of gender identity and bravely testing the limits of self-expression. The exhibition also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, which served as a catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ movement in the U.S. and around the world.

This exhibition is a teaching moment, reflecting a part of our global community previously underrepresented at the McNay. Everyone should at some point be able to see themselves, their cultures, their identities, and their passions reflected in our collections and exhibitions. Educating everyone is at the core of our mission: “to engage a diverse community through the discovery and enjoyment of the visual arts.”

Visual AIDS Artist Members Hunter Reynolds and Chuck Ramirez are featured in this exhibition among the following artists below:

niv Acosta
Luis Arturo Aguirre
Frank Benson
Carlos Betancourt
David Zamora Casas
Cassils
Chris Castillo
Jayne County
David Antonio Cruz
Lesley Dill
Zackary Drucker
Richard Duardo
Rhys Ernst
EVA & ADELE
Anel Flores
Julio Galán
James Gobel
Nan Goldin
Martine Gutierrez
Keith Haring
Roey Victoria Heiftez
Mari Hernandez
Sarah Hill
Peter Hujar
Graciela Iturbide
Andrés Juarez
Deborah Kass
Greer Lankton
Lynn Hershman Leeson
Zoe Leonard
JJ Levine
Kalup Linzy
Nicki Lucio
Amos Mac
Michael Martinez
Robert Mapplethorpe
Nelson Morales
Yasumasa Morimura
Jon O’Neal
Catherine Opie
Antonia Padilla
Ernesto Pujol
Chuck Ramirez
Lissa Rivera
Saakred/Miguel Rodriguez
Athi-Patra Ruga
Lezley Saar
Jacolby Satterwhite
Xavier Schipani
Mark Seliger
Fannie Sosa
Beth van Hoesen
Jose Villalobos
Andy Warhol
Claudia Zapata
Nahum B. Zenil