LOS ANGELES — As West Hollywood marks its 40th anniversary, the city is celebrating one of the communities that helped shape its identity: The drag performers who’ve long called it home.
The exhibit, titled “It’s Where I Belong,” offers an immersive look at the city’s rich drag history, from legendary acts to underground artistry. Presented by the One Institute, one of the oldest oldest active LGBTQ+ organizations in the country, and curated by drag queen and professor Lil Miss Hot Mess, the show brings together decades of costumes, archival footage, photographs and personal mementos.
“This is kind of one of the central photos of the exhibit,” Little Miss Hot Mess says, gesturing to a portrait of the Cosmetics, a legendary group of drag performers.
“In putting this exhibition together, I spent about three months going through the archives at the ONE Archives at USC Libraries. I also put out a community call to drag performers because drag, it’s an ephemeral art form. It doesn’t always make its way to institutional archives. So many of the best pieces in the show are things that people had hidden away in their closets, tucked under their bed,” she said.
The exhibit includes a massive portrait wall that spans eras and aesthetics. “Drag history, it’s not really linear,” she says. “It’s beautifully hot, messy, and I wanted to showcase the ways in which performers bump elbows across time and place.”
“It’s Where I Belong” is on view during a particularly charged moment for drag in America. With increased political scrutiny on drag story hours and performances, the exhibit arrives as both tribute and statement.
“There’s been an intensified backlash against drag as an art form over the past few years,” Little Miss Hot Mess said. “And in that kind of environment, it’s important to look towards our history. To be reminded that we’ve fought similar battles, and we’ve won.”
The exhibit is one of several efforts by the city to honor its history during its 40th year.
“Since the beginning of the city, drag queens have been running the show here,” West Hollywood Mayor Chelsea Byers said. “It’s truly been a safe haven for people to be in their drag artistry and to bring that culture to the city from the very beginning.”
Byers adds that while drag has been met with increasing criticism elsewhere, West Hollywood continues to embrace it as part of its cultural identity.
“This is about freedom. This is about individuality. This is about expression. And when we understand that drag is really about uplifting joy, there’s nothing to fear.”
As the exhibit draws visitors from across the city and beyond, its final message lands in the photographs, fabric and sequins that line the costumes against the gallery walls.
“Looking at all the photographs in this exhibition just reminds me,” said Little Miss Hot Mess, “that not only do we stand on the shoulders of giants, we’re still out here fighting and being our most fabulous selves.”