About the exhibition
Curators: Zoe Cinel and Art Center board member Brian Dukerschein.
Homecoming Queen was a 4,000-square-foot exhibition that invited visitors to explore the wonderful world of Utica Queen, star of Season 13 of the Emmy-winning pop-culture phenomenon “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” The exhibition featured Utica’s most stunning garments, her original design sketches, large-scale editorial photographs of the “Drag Race” alumna, and a 10-minute film highlighting Utica’s background and creative process. The show was also offered as a virtual experience, allowing drag fans and fashion lovers from across the globe to immerse themselves in a fully navigable online gallery and enjoy close-up views of Utica’s fantastic creations.
“While Utica is an incredibly charismatic performer, what truly sets her apart and elevates her craft is the fact that she conceives, designs, and sews her own looks, which are at Alexander McQueen levels of inspiration, creativity and artistry,” says Co-Curator Brian Dukerschein. “To our knowledge, this is the first-ever exhibition that positions a drag performer as a visual artist via their garments. And since the show features elements of everything from fashion and photography to queer culture and gender expression, it is our sincere hope that this exhibition serves as a catalyst for many meaningful conversations, but especially regarding LGBTQIA+ issues in our community.”
Utica, aka Ethan Mundt, was born and raised in Utica, MN, a small town of less than 300 roughly 30 miles east of Rochester, where the exhibition took place. Upon graduating from high school, Mundt moved to St. Paul, MN, to attend Hamline University, where he earned dual degrees in fine art and theater design. It was at Hamline that Mundt started exploring drag, and before long he was performing regularly at venues throughout the Twin Cities. Then came “Drag Race,” where he quickly won the hearts of fans across the world with his artfully inspired looks. Mundt continues to delight his more than 460,000 Instagram followers with his creativity and in September will take the UK by storm during an 11-city tour.
“To have my drag celebrated in the area I grew up in is something I never thought would happen, so this feels like a wild dream come true,” says Mundt. “I hope this show brings a lot of joy to everyone who sees it and inspires them to live life a little more freely and to look at their fellow humans with more kindness.” Exhibition highlights will include such pieces as Utica’s blue and yellow checkered “Drag Race” promo look, her take on Carol Burnett’s infamous “Gone With the Wind” parody, and, of course, the instantly iconic sleeping bag dress made during a Season 13 design challenge. “Every outfit is incredibly imaginative and original, but just like a well-crafted puzzle, they are all rich in cultural and historical references,” says Co-Curator Zoe Cinel. “The meticulous application of pleats and stitches, the purposeful use of matching or complementing colors, and the immense care for detail all speak to Ethan’s deep passion and talent for the art form of drag.”
Promo look for RuPaul Drag Race Season 13
"Pockets"
"Pockets"
"Skin"
"Skin"
"Skin"
Documentation by Kali Morrison
Programs
During the four-month run of the show, the Art Center hosted a variety of programming events with local- and state-level LGBTQIA+ groups to facilitate public discussion and exploration on many topics, including queer artistry and culture, gender expression, personal stories, and community development,