The Legend of Leigh Bowery screening, and Q&A with Sue Tilley and guests
This Feb, as part of our Queer+ Season, we will be screening the unique Charles Atlas documentary, The Legend of Leigh Bowery.
American filmmaker Charles Atlas documented the life and work of Bowery, up to his AIDS-related death in 1994. Part fashion designer, part performance artist, part club promoter, Leigh Bowery was a singular creation of his own making. An imposing-looking man even without his often startling, always outrageous, costuming, the Australian-born Bowery became a legend of the London club and underground art scenes in the 1980s. The film features rarely-seen archival footage and interviews with Bowery’s family and friends.
Bowery was best known for his flamboyant and outlandish costumes & makeup as well as his live performances, but, based in London for much of his adult life, he was also a significant model for the English painter Lucian Freud.
As part of this special celebration evening we are very lucky to be joined by Sue Tilley for a Q&A after the film, Sue was a very close friend of Leigh’s, and also a very important muse for Lucian Freud, inspiring one of his most famous paintings. ‘Big Sue’, who was a huge fixture of the 80s club scene in her own right, will share her unique and funny insights into these most chaotic and iconic years in queer club culture history.
We'd like to thank our guest curator, Daniel Conway (University of Westminster), for helping to shape this event.