The John Burton Harter Foundation presented Sing the Body Electric, an exhibition featuring LGBTQ+ artists with deep ties to New Orleans, from July 12 to August 3, 2025, at the University of New Orleans Gallery.
Curated by the painter, mixed media artist, and UNO professor Josiah Gagosian, Sing the Body Electric gathered the work of contemporary artists with paintings by John Burton Harter (1940–2002). Harter was a New Orleans-based curator and artist whose work reflected his exploration of gay life.
The show’s featured artists included Anthony “BE3K” Badon, BK Durham, John Burton Harter, Jourdan Barnes, Keith Perelli, Ryan “phlegm” Gilbert, Ryan Leitner, Sydney Calderón, and Vee Adams.
A video produced by Zack Smith on opening night captures the spirit of the exhibition. It includes insights from Gagosian and interviews with Badon, Adams, and Leitner about their work and influences.
Watch the video below and on YouTube.
