If you have to be in MY during this heatwave, then at least make it worth your while.  Make tracks to Culture Lab in Long Island City for a totally fab exhibit QUEENS: THE ART OF DRAG & NYC. This major fine art exhibition celebrates drag as one of the most dynamic, political, and imaginative art forms of our time and honors drag’s deep-rooted lineage in New York City’s cultural history.  It invites audiences to look beyond the footlights and view drag not merely as stage entertainment, but as a deeply intentional, labor-intensive practice of self-making, visual storytelling, and community preservation. The exhibition brings together a diverse array of artists and performers who are actively pushing the boundaries of gender expression, beauty, and identity.

Curated by Culture Lab LIC Artistic Director Tess Howsam alongside Parker Phillips, the multi-gallery exhibition features:

High-Fashion Costume & Regalia: Elaborate garments and physical garments that showcase the intense technical discipline of drag design.

Photography & Portraiture: Stunning visual chronicles of legendary icons and contemporary rule-breakers in the local scene.

Video & Multimedia Installation: Dynamic audio-visual loops capturing the kinetic energy of live transformation and the voices of the community.

The exhibition features prominent works from trailblazers of the craft, including a special display of work from DD Fuego (RuPaul’s Drag Race, Season 18), alongside an array of visual and performance artists who represent the past, present, and future of the city’s drag lineage.