Queer Lens: A History of Photography (J. Paul Getty Museum) is a deeply significant and beautifully produced volume that traces the evolving meaning of queer—from its sixteenth-century use to describe the strange or peculiar, to its twentieth-century reclamation as a shared identity across sexuality and gender. By linking this linguistic evolution to the history of photography, the book highlights the medium’s pivotal role in shaping, expressing, and affirming queer identities, even during eras of intense discrimination.
Rich essays by scholars and artists offer thoughtful interpretations of queer life, exploring the complexities of relationships, kinship, and activism. A striking selection of images—ranging from early portraits to documentary photographs of protests and community gatherings—illustrates the vibrant history and diversity of LGBTQ+ experiences.
In line with the Getty Museum’s tradition of excellence, Queer Lens combines rigorous scholarship with outstanding production values. It stands as an essential contribution to the fields of photography, art history, and LGBTQ+ studies. Published to accompany the Getty Center exhibition (June 17–September 28, 2025), this book offers a powerful testament to photography’s transformative role in increasing queer visibility across generations.
This volume accompanies
the exhibition on view at the Getty Center , June 17–September 28, 2025.
Paul Martineau is curator in the Department of Photographs at the J. Paul Getty Museum. He is the author of Rodney Smith (Getty, 2023), Imogen Cunningham (Getty, 2020), and Icons of Style (Getty, 2018).
Ryan Linkof is curator at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. He is author of Public Images (2018) and has contributed to numerous scholarly journals, artists' monographs, and publications, including The New York Times, Document Journal, and East of Borneo.
Attributed to John H. Fitzgibbon Charlotte Cushman and Matilda Hayesca. 1858, Courtesy J. Paul Getty Museum
Priscilla and Regina, Brooklyn, NY © JEB (Joan E. Biren), Courtesy J. Paul Getty Museum
Gay Activists at First Gay Pride Parade, Christopher Street, New York, NY 1970 © Arthur Tress, Courtesy J. Paul Getty Museum
Getty Publications produces award-winning titles that result from or complement the work of the J. Paul Getty Museum, Getty Conservation Institute, and Getty Research Institute. This wide variety of books covers the fields of art, photography, archaeology, architecture, conservation, and the humanities for both the general public and specialists. Publications include illustrated works on artists and art history, exhibition catalogues, works on cultural history, research on the conservation of materials and archaeological sites, scholarly monographs, critical editions of translated works, comprehensive studies of Getty's collections, and educational books on art to interest children of all ages.
Texas Isaiah (American, active since 2012), Courtesy J. Paul Getty Museum
Wrestlers ca. 1885–1905 © Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden, Courtesy J. Paul Getty Museum
