Talisman is a group art exhibition, representing the work of a great selection of contemporary queer artists, currently on in Bankside, London until 11^th August. Curated by art industry veterans Gemma Rolls-Bentley and E-J Scott, and presented by Cardion Arts in partnership with the Museum of Transology, Talisman considers the objects, people and symbols we use in order to keep us safe.

Since ancient times, people have turned to ritual and talismanic objects as a means of protection against unseen forces and existential threats. In that same spirit, Talisman draws on this rich legacy of symbolic defence, inviting artists to channel their creative energies as acts of safeguarding and resistance. The works on view explore themes of queer spirituality, the supernatural, hurt and healing, bodily sanctity, and our community’s shared capacity to summon resilience and good fortune.

The exhibition features Karina Akopyan, Niya B, Jonathan Baldock, Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, Claye Bowler, KV Duong, Eva Dixon, Jesse Darling, Dudley Dream Walsh, Luke Edward Hall, Lubaina Himid, Erin Holly, Kasra Jalilipour, Wayne Lucas, Richard Maguire, Emily Pope, Prem Sahib, Zach Toppin, Emily Witham, Ajamu X, Osman Yousefzada, alongside objects from the Museum of Transology.

I caught up with curator Gemma Rolls Bentley to find out more.

Can you tell us about the Talisman exhibition and why it’s important?

Cardion Arts is a not-for-profit organisation that champions LGBTQIA+ artists and a central part of the Cardion Arts programme is our annual group exhibition. This year, the exhibition Talisman brings together artists whose work explores the symbols, objects, and people we turn to for safety and protection. In the UK and globally, we’re facing increasingly difficult times, and the idea of a talisman feels more urgent and resonant than ever.

Talisman is an exhibition that celebrates difference and encourages people to embrace themselves in the face of oppression and marginalisation is precisely what we need to heal, to connect, and to move forward together.

How has the art world evolved for queer artists over the past 15 years, and how have artists responded to the theme of the exhibition?

Over the past 15 years we’ve seen a real shift in opportunities for LGBTQIA+ artists; museums are thoughtfully programming queer exhibitions and events, and commercial galleries are diversifying their rosters, actively working with under-represented artists. However, after decades of little or no representation there is a long way to go. While the art world is evolving – with more opportunities for queer artists to exhibit and sell work – we are also seeing heightened hostility and challenges, reflecting those being experienced in wider society. That’s why creating safe, affirming spaces like Talisman is more important than ever.

It’s been incredibly exciting to see how the artists have responded to the theme. The submissions reflect the community’s resilience, the boundless creativity of queer artists, and the radical hope that continues to fuel our community. The idea of a Talisman means something different to everyone, it might be a symbol, an object or a person that we turn to to keep us safe. This exhibition is a testament to the imagination and strength of the community that birthed it.

What advice do you have for up-and-coming queer artists?

The queer community is a powerful example of collective support. Many queer and trans people experience rejection from their families, so we often build chosen families – relationships based on shared values and mutual care.

I encourage emerging artists to take advantage of opportunities with organisations like Cardion Arts and to actively connect with peers and mentors. I first saw the Museum of Transology’s exhibition at Brighton Museum in 2015, and I was deeply moved by the intergenerational storytelling. It showed how important it is to forge community across time.

With that in mind, we created the Cardion Artists’ Salon, back on July 11^th, a day-long event for early-career queer and trans artists featuring creative workshops, critical discussion, and peer networking with more established artists featured in the show.

We’re also running a programme of events throughout the year, including intimate artist–collector dinners and further artist salons – all of which will be detailed on the Cardion Arts website and social media.

There are lots of opportunities out there, such as residencies and open calls, but I really encourage people to be proactive in building community. Other artists, particularly those at different career stages, can offer guidance, peer support, even introductions, but most importantly they can offer solidarity and a source of inspiration.

There are countless famous artists who are queer but aren’t often labelled as such — Catherine Opie, David Hockney, Maggie Hambling, Basquiat, Liz Collins, Caravaggio, Keith Haring, Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol to name a few. Do you think the label “queer artist” is helpful or potentially limiting?

This is an interesting question, and something I thought long and hard about when writing my book Queer Art.

Queer art has always been about doing things differently. Take Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, who in 1916 moved to Charleston House, creating a radical, bohemian community where queerness was celebrated. A century later, that spirit still feels revolutionary.

In my 20 years of curating and writing about queer art, I’ve seen LGBTQIA+ artists consistently challenge conventions. Today, as we face renewed threats, this spirit is more vital than ever.

That said, queer art is not a monolith. People often expect queer art to be figurative, sexually explicit, or biographical but it’s far broader than that. Queer art today encompasses abstraction, conceptualism, and everything in between. Look at Michaela Yearwood-Dan’s show at Hauser & Wirth – it’s abstract and deeply queer.

Considering art as queer shouldn’t be a reductive process, it should simply be one of many lenses we might apply to an artist’s work. Framing art as queer provides an opportunity for people to see themselves reflected or to gain alternative perspectives.

Representation does matter, and that’s why we created this show with Cardion Arts. The artists we’ve brought together are at the forefront of contemporary British art — not just queer art.

Jesse Darling, who won the Turner Prize in 2023, contributes two sculptural talismans reimagining the human form in surreal, sacred ways. Ajamu X presents a new photographic work that continues his exploration of Black queer sensuality, radically disrupting the traditional photography archive. And Turner Prize–winning Lubaina Himid has contributed an incredibly generous piece despite her packed schedule representing the UK at the Venice Biennale.