SYDNEY.- Qtopia Sydney, in association with the European Union (EU) Delegation to Australia, is presenting LOVING, a photographic collection capturing intimate moments of Queer love between the 1850s and 1950s by American collectors and married couple, Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell.
Hosted at the largest centre for Queer history and culture in the world, Qtopia Sydney, the landmark exhibition draws from the extraordinary private collection of more than 4,000 images of men in love by Nini and Treadwell from flea markets, auction houses, family albums and online collections across the globe over a period of more than two decades.
When Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell discovered an old photograph of two men in love at an antique store in Dallas, Texas, 25 years ago, they had no idea how profoundly it would change their lives — and illuminate a hidden history.
That single image sparked a global journey, taking them across the United States, Canada, Europe, the UK, Australia and Asia in search of photographs capturing men in love.
Guided by what they call “the unmistakable look” of love, Nini and Treadwell assembled more than 4,000 images of male couples taken between the 1850s and 1950s — quiet, tender portraits of connection that defied convention and were often kept hidden.
In 2020, their groundbreaking book LOVING: A Photographic History of Men in Love, 1850s–1950s brought hundreds of these photographs to public view, revealing the depth and universality of love across generations. Three years later, the collection was exhibited for the first time at the Musée Rath in Geneva.
The EU Ambassador to Australia, his Excellency, Mr Gabriele Visentin said, “These photographs are intimate and enigmatic, offering glimpses into relationships that endured despite social constraints. The message of these portraits is that happiness is possible. By bringing this exhibition to Australia, the EU affirms a shared commitment to equality, respect of human rights, and the freedom to love.”
Qtopia Sydney’s Curatorial Director, Holly Riding said, “This collection restores visibility to LGBTQIA+ histories, reclaiming narratives long absent from archives. It confronts the significant absence of LGBTQIA+ narratives within contemporary historical collections, offering a vital restoration of visibility.
Though most photos lack inscriptions, visual clues like uniforms, studio settings and photographic techniques reveal important clues to their provenance and social context, illuminating the resilience and strength of Queer love across more than 4,000 images.”
Qtopia Sydney’s CEO, Greg Fisher said, “It’s a great honour for Qtopia Sydney to have been selected to present the Sydney premiere of LOVING. In our third year since opening in 2024, we aim to honour the stories of those who paved the way and this landmark exhibition detailing the hidden love of men is a continuation of this journey.”
These portraits capture moments of tenderness and vulnerability, yet they also speak to survival and deep courage. To be photographed as a couple during a period of profound risk was an act of defiance—a quiet, tender but fearless assertion of existence in the face of danger or erasure.”
Long absent from public history, these images reveal tender, resilient relationships between men during eras marked by social constraint and legal persecution. Together, the works form a powerful visual testament to the universality of love, the quiet defiance of authenticity, and the enduring courage of intimacy.
LOVING brings to light the lives and stories of male couples from around the world, reminding us that love transcends time, borders, and circumstance.
