Labours of Love

Gemma co curated Labours of Love with Ricardo Reverón Blanco, a group exhibition including works by Boy Blue, Alana Lake, Daira Ronzoni and Emily Witham that delves into the deep, complex relationship between love and work within the queer community.

At the heart of the exhibition is the idea that love, for many queer individuals, is not simply a natural or effortless emotion, but a powerful act of defiance, perseverance, and self-determination. In a society that often marginalises or seeks to define love within heteronormative frameworks, queer love requires active, ongoing work. From self-love to romantic, platonic, or familial connections, love becomes a radical act of existence and resistance—something we must fight for, nurture, and continuously build.

Hosted in Portsmouth during UK Pride, it reflects on how queer communities have continually fought for visibility, acceptance, and self-determination, making space for ongoing conversations about love as an act of resilience. In doing so, the exhibition not only celebrates the diversity of LGBTQ+ experiences but also reinforces the necessity of collective memory and solidarity in the fight for enduring and radical love.

Installation photography by Goble Photography