Pride Through The Lens Exhibition

GCLER Presents “Pride Through the Lens”: A Carnival-Inspired Art Exhibition That Celebrates and Honors Queer Latine Identity and Creative Collaboration

Grupo Cultural Latinos en Rochester (GCLER) is proud to announce Pride Through the Lens—a groundbreaking visual arts initiative that uplifts and celebrates the intersection of Latine and LGBTQIA+ identities through photography, storytelling, and cultural expression. This project is made possible in part with funds from the Genesee Valley Council on the arts aid to localities program. The traveling exhibition will run from September through October 2025 for Hispanic Heritage Month, launching with an opening reception at The Yards on Friday, September 5th from 6-9PM and will run until September 14th at this location. The exhibition will feature photography by Tali Conic, alongside costume displays by featured designer BadMoonYoyo, and will include appearances by participating artists, models, and collaborators. This is an opportunity for the public to connect directly with the creative voices behind the project.

Pride Through the Lens brings together a diverse collective of creatives, a photographer, models, makeup artists, hairstylists, designers, and community members to craft a powerful visual narrative that honors the beauty, resilience, and diversity of Rochester’s Latine LGBTQIA+ community. Additional exhibits will be hosted at venues across the city and beyond, fostering accessibility and continued community engagement.

Pride Through the Lens is a celebration of identity, culture, and the powerful voices within our LGBTQIA+ and Latine communities,” said Tali Conic. “As a proud Afro-Latina and queer creative, this project reflects not only my own story, but the strength, truth, and beauty of every model who stood in front of the camera. Each photo, each outfit, each moment captured is rooted in pride, resistance, and love for who we are. As waves of hate, erasure, and oppression continue to target our communities, this exhibition is a bold reminder that we exist, we resist, and we deserve to be seen.”