Summer 2026 marks the inauguration of Thunderhead, the 2SLGBTQI+ National Monument. In collaboration with the LGBT Purge Fund, Canadian Heritage invited Canadian visual artists, photographers, graphic designers and illustrators to share works celebrating the strength, activism and hope of diverse queer communities across Canada. Reproductions of a selection of these artworks are presented in this outdoor exhibition, adjacent to the monument site.
The featured works explore a wide range of experiences and expressions. They reclaim the term “pansy” as a symbol of queer resilience and beauty (Christopher Glabb); envision transformation and the radical possibilities of queer self-discovery (Arjun Lal); pay tribute to the creativity and artistry of drag performers (Annabelle Babineau); and transform insults directed at queer communities into celebrations of collective memory (Philippe Croteau).
Works also acknowledge the tension between fragility and strength experienced by queer youth (Murielle ”Truly” Bien-Aimé); assert the visibility of trans bodies (Ian Stone); confront the history of persecution and expulsion of 2SLGBTQI+ individuals from Canada’s public service (Evalyn Shields and Sabrina Ferrari); and affirm queer love and joy in defiance of marginalization and hate (Kaitlyn Ceasar).
