2018-ongoing

What started off as a performance to honor the queer histories and people in public spaces, Strange Inheritance as a project has morphed into new and different ventures. Inspired by the acts in labor by Mierle Laderman Ukeles, I traveled the country and the UK on a quest to find local LGBTQ+ public spaces and monuments to clean and wash. Upon closer inspection of some of these monuments and their founding organizations, I found monuments that were in actual need of restoration. With the aid of different local governments, I have been able to restore some of these historic sites.

Below is an ongoing series of articles about the project and a list of the monuments visited so far. Please check back as I will be updating this page with current events and actions.

Latest Article:

Strange Inheritance: Origins

Strange Inheritance: Past

Monuments Visited

Pink Dolphin Statue, Galveston, TX
Highbury Fields Plaque, Highbury Fields, London
Upstairs Lounge Plaque, New Orleans, LA
Transgender Memorial Garden, St. Louis, MI
The Indiana AIDS Memorial, Indianapolis, Indiana
New Orleans AIDS Memorial, Washington Square Park, New Orleans, LA
Stewart Butler’s Activict’s Memorial, New Orleans, LA

Monuments Restored

Pink Dolphin Statue, Galveston, TX
Upstairs Lounge Plaque, New Orleans, LA

Funded by

SMFA Traveling Fellowship, SMFA at Tufts
Research & Archives Grant, LGBT+ Archives Project
Office of Human Rights and Equity, New Orleans

RYAN LEITNER

RYAN LEITNER