My Romantic Ideal: A Queer Photography Exhibition curated by Slava Mogutin

by Adriano Batista

At a time when LGBTQ+ rights face growing threats, art becomes more than personal expression. It is an act of resistance. My Romantic Ideal, a new queer photography exhibition curated by Slava Mogutin, brings together 28 artists to explore intimacy, desire, and identity in ways that defy traditional ideas of romance.

Running until August 31, 2025, at The Bureau of General Services – Queer Division in New York City, the exhibition features work from both emerging and established photographers. These artists do not simply capture queer life, they reimagine it. Through intimate portraits, candid moments, and dreamlike compositions, they redefine love outside the limits of heteronormative expectations.

The title My Romantic Ideal reflects the tension between society’s rigid norms and the fluid, rebellious nature of queer desire. Romance has long been shaped by straight narratives, but here, the artists dismantle those conventions. Some focus on tenderness, others on passion or defiance. Together, they prove that queer love cannot be pinned down, it is complex, contradictory, and alive.

Mogutin describes the exhibition as a statement. These artists do not just observe queer experiences, they create new ways of seeing them. Their work sparks a conversation across generations about the politics of love, the performance of desire, and the power of queer connection.

Check out some of the works featured below: