The American LGBTQ+ Museum

Event Details:

New-York Historical, in partnership with the American LGBTQ+ Museum and NewFest, presents a screening of the documentary Coded: The Hidden Love of J.C. Leyendecker (2021). Directed by Ryan White, the Oscar-shortlisted short film focuses on J.C. Leyendecker as one of the most prominent artists of his time, whose story is now largely forgotten. His coded imagery spoke directly to the gay community and laid the foundation for LGBTQ+ representation in advertising today.

The film screening will be followed by a dynamic panel conversation grounded in Under Cover: J.C. Leyendecker and American Masculinity, a new exhibition at New-York Historical Society that examines the work and influence of this influential gay artist.

Panelists include Jari Jones, model and activist; Ignacio Darnaude, art writer, lecturer, and film producer; Devon Hong, creative director; and illustrator Marcos Chin (moderator).

Stay after the program to view the exhibition in the Robert H. and Clarice Smith South Gallery.

Under Cover is organized by New-York Historical from the collection of the National Museum of American Illustration, Newport, RI. The show is guest-curated by Donald Albrecht, and coordinated at New-York Historical by Rebecca Klassen, curator of material culture.