The Reach of Light

Queer photography, portraiture and visual art enter into dialogue with a historic Coral Gables church setting for a Pride Month exhibition centered on visibility, belonging and spiritual reflection. Presented by Gay in the Gables, The Reach of Light is on view June 4-6 at Coral Gables United Church of Christ, with a free public opening reception on Friday, June 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibition brings together LGBTQIA+ artists Josh Aronson, Celeste Burns, Ricky Cohete, Juicy Love Dion, David Gary Lloyd and Michael Zimmerer.

The group exhibition transforms the church sanctuary into a gallery space, using contemporary queer art to explore the relationship between LGBTQIA+ communities and religious or spiritual spaces. Across the works, light appears as both material and metaphor, with references to halos, iconography, devotional imagery, identity and the body reframed through a contemporary queer lens.

The participating artists work across photography, performance, mixed media and visual storytelling. Aronson’s photography has been shown in museum, institutional and public art settings, while Burns’ work focuses on love, emotion and human connection. Cohete’s images draw from mythology, tarot symbolism, astrology and the Florida landscape; Dion brings a performance-based practice rooted in drag, glamour and cultural commentary; Lloyd explores queer symbolism, portraiture and resilience; and Zimmerer works across photography, sculpture and painting to examine consciousness, environment and the human experience.

Located across from the Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables United Church of Christ was founded in 1923 and is known for its Mediterranean Revival architecture as well as its commitment to inclusivity, social justice and community engagement. The exhibition is free and open to the public.