LOVING: Photographs of Men in Love 1850s-1950s

IMAGE: Photomaton, United States, non date. 27 x 32 mm. Courtesy of the Nini-Treadwell collection. © Loving by 5 Continents Editions.

LOVING brings long-hidden stories into the light through hundreds of rare and intimate photographs dating from the 1850s to the 1950s. 

Captured at a time when same-sex relationships were often criminalised or socially condemned, the images reveal moments of tenderness, connection, and quiet defiance. Together, they form a striking counternarrative to the repression of their era. 

The exhibition also invites reflection on the broader struggle for equality and freedom, drawing connections between histories in Europe and Australia, from Nazi camp prisoners who wore a pink triangle to the courage of Australia’s Sydney 78ers who marched for their rights. These stories underscore the resilience and bravery that paved the way to today’s freedom.

Through LOVING, the EU and Australia reaffirm their shared commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. By preserving and presenting these histories, both acknowledge the importance of remembering the past to inform a more inclusive future.

 

COMING SOON

22 August 2026 — 4 April 2027

Art Gallery at Royal Park | Free entry

 

QVMAG co-presents with the Delegation of the European Union to Australia - LOVING: Photographs of Men in Love 1850s-1950s. A unique portrait exhibition based on the archive collection and book of the same name, researched and curated by Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell.