An exhibition of paintings by a former drag queen are set to go on display in the Houses of Parliament.
Dusty O, aka David Hodge, is previewing 20 new works in a collection called Limp Wrist – Iron Fist on June 3. The one-night-only exhibition is hosted by MP Khalid Mahmood, Pride in London and ParliOUT.
The pieces give a glimpse into Hodge's former life, showing a colourful world free of gender and judgement.
“I lived a crazy life full of hedonism,” he says. “It was through my drag alter-ego, though, and not real, so I paint through two mindsets: mine and ‘her's’. There are always hidden undertones in my work. Nothing is purely decorative and it’s thoroughly queer.”
Until giving up drag three years ago, Dusty O was one of the most prolific figures on the London drag scene, as a performer, DJ, promoter and founder of club night Trannyshack, which ran for 10 years at the now closed Soho haunt Madame JoJo’s.
“To see my work in Parliament is strange and exciting. It’s like taking slices of your mind and pasting them over the walls of Democratic Britain. Unnerving but thrilling!”
An exhibition of queer art works by Dusty O is at the Houses of Parliament from 4-9pm on June 3, prideinlondon.org
