On 17th May – the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia – Milan’s Gallerie d’Italia unveils “Look at Me Like You Love Me: Guardami Come Se Mi Amassi,” a landmark exhibition by American transgender photographer Jess T. Dugan. Princess Daisy explores how these thirty luminous, large-format portraits in soft pastel tones both celebrate queer identity and challenge prejudice in our communities.
A pastel-hued portrait gallery of love and resistance
Step into the hushed halls of Gallerie d’Italia, set against the grandeur of Piazza della Scala, and you’ll be met with thirty striking images that blend self-portraiture, intimate couple studies, and evocative scenes of individuals at various life stages. Dugan’s signature style – a fusion of soft, flattering colour palettes and painstaking attention to body language – gives each subject a powerful presence:
The effect is at once serene and profoundly emotional – inviting viewers to connect face-to-face with stories too often hidden in the margins.
Why May 17th matters – art as activism
Choosing May 17th for the opening isn’t coincidental. It marks the day in 1990 when the World Health Organization finally removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses. Since then, 17th May has become a global symbol of unity and defiance against discrimination. By launching “Look at Me Like You Love Me” on this day, Gallerie d’Italia and Jess T. Dugan amplify:
Art here is not mere decoration – it is a form of protest, a rallying cry to end homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.
Curating empathy: Renata Ferri’s vision
Italian curator Renata Ferri, who shepherded the project, describes the show as a “pastoral ode to queer love.” In the exhibition catalogue, she pairs each photograph with an in-depth interview of Dugan, illuminating the personal narratives behind every image. Ferri’s editorial approach reveals how:
Her curatorial narrative emphasises that art can be both gentle and radical – a combination that Daisy champions across Princess Daisy’s columns.
A queer pastoral: exploring body, desire and belonging
Dugan’s exhibition unfolds like a modern pastoral, substituting bucolic fields with contemporary settings that resonate across gender and culture. Key themes include:
This “queer pastoral” invites us to reimagine nature itself as inclusive: where every form of love and identity belongs under open skies.
From Milan to everywhere – the exhibition’s wider impact
Although rooted in Milan’s cultural scene, “Look at Me Like You Love Me” has global resonance. The exhibition travels later in the year to partner museums in Europe and North America, ensuring Dugan’s poignant portraits spark conversations worldwide. Key takeaways for our readers include:
For the Princess Daisy community, Dugan’s work offers both creative fuel and a reminder: every voice deserves to be seen and loved.
Visiting information and practical tips
If you’re in London, Paris or beyond, consider a trip to Milan’s Gallerie d’Italia this summer. Opening hours and ticketing details are available online, with special guided tours on May 17th. When you go:
“Look at Me Like You Love Me” isn’t just an art show – it’s a movement in pastel tones, weaving solidarity through every fibre of felt, chiffon and tulle. Embrace the opportunity to witness queer joy on canvas and return home with fresh style inspiration and renewed commitment to equality.