An Exhibition of Tender Queer Love: A Review of “Miranda Forrester: Interiorities” at Mariane Ibrahim
Radical softness and sensuality saturate Miranda Forrester’s paintings at the Mariane Ibrahim Gallery. Forrester, a Black queer woman from London, paints her subjects—women and children of color—in the quiet luxury of a spacious home. By portraying the figures in a comfortable and safe environment, Forrester creates an influential visual narrative that confronts stereotypes and celebrates the resilience and beauty of her subjects. This is a significant attribution for women of color when there is so much gender-based violence against queer BIPOC individuals. In a world where marginalized communities are often subjected to violence and discrimination, Forrester’s work is a necessary reminder of the importance of depicting resistance in rest.
Her works express a deep reverence of care through simple gestures of love without being overtly sexual in nature. The connection between the two lovers is profound and unmistakable as if they were two halves of the same whole. Despite their faces remaining obscured, their authenticity cannot be questioned.
Excerpted words written by Zara Yost in NewCity.