Sexy Gay Life Drawing: Lavender Rebellion

This event, hosted by Converge (Brisbane’s Queer Creative Collective), is part of the Melt Festival of Queer Arts and Culture and follows the ‘Sexy Gay Art Exhibition’ (Saturday, 25 October) at VENTspace, South Brisbane. Life drawing tickets also cover access to the exhibition. Be inspired by local queer artists before immersing yourself in a sensuous life drawing session that celebrates queerness in all its forms.

2 models, 2 hours, 2 sessions.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

✍🏽 Get cosy surrounding our beautifully curated stage on a comfy chair or rug. Feel free to also bring your favourite blanket or pillow for extra comfort and relaxation.

✍🏽 The first 15 minutes of each session is dedicated to life drawing technique led by Artist and Convenor, Ruby Zizania, who is currently an artist in residence at Mint Art House, Burleigh Heads.

✍🏽 Two models will perform together to create inspiring poses, ranging from short to long.

✍🏽 Basic materials provided (pencils, charcoal, paper).

✍🏽 The bar will be open for light drinks.

Whether you're a seasoned life drawer or this is your first time, Sexy Gay Life Drawing is suitable for all skill levels, and everyone is welcome! Enjoy a relaxed, creative atmosphere surrounded by like-minded folks.

LAVENDER REBELLION, THE FEMALE GAZE:

Lavender was never just a colour; it was a signal, a stigma, and ultimately a symbol of lesbian power. In the early 20th century, it was a quiet code for same-sex love. By the 1920s–30s, it marked those who blurred gender and desire. In the 1950s and 1960s, it appeared in pulp novels and whispered reputations, both secretive and scandalous. By the 1970s, lesbians boldly reclaimed it with the rallying cry of the “Lavender Menace,” transforming insult into power. Since then, lavender has remained a colour of solidarity, erotic freedom, and radical queer visibility. Sexy Gay life drawing celebrates lavender’s journey, from stigma to strength, as a living, sensual symbol of lesbian and queer culture.