Barbershop: The Art of Queer Failure

June 06- July 19, 2025

Opening Reception:

June 06, 5:00-7:00PM Free

For Barbershop: The Art of Queer Failure, artist Ace Lehner transforms Brewer Harris Projects into a playful yet functional version of a barbershop, with glitter curtains, colorful patterned textiles, and hand-drawn posters featuring images of queer icons.  During Lehner’s performances, which take place throughout June and July, visitors can stop by the gallery to get their hair cut in the style of a range of these icons, such as Alok, RuPaul, Andy Warhol, and Claude Cahun. Instead of payment, participants in the project can agree to get their hair cut by Lehner, engaging in an act of “queer world making” by donning images of queer icons in their day-to-day lives.

In addition to serving as spaces for haircuts, barbershops have traditionally been a venue for all kinds of conversations and points of view. In a similar vein, Lehner’s exhibition and performances create a space to build community, ask questions about societal beliefs around binary gender, and spark conversations about LGBTQ+ experiences and how they extend into the world.

Ace Lehner was born in Upstate New York and currently lives in Burlington, VT. Their work has been exhibited at Berry Campbell Gallery, New York, NY; the International Center of Photography, New York, NY; Geary Contemporary, Millerton, NY; El Museo del Barrio, New York, NY; The Fleming Museum, Burlington, VT; Practice Gallery, Philadelphia, PA; SOMArts, San Francisco, CA; The National Queer Arts Festival, San Francisco CA; The GLBT Historical Society Museum, San Francisco, CA; Spring Break Art Fair, New York, NY; The Wassaic Project, Wassaic NY; SF Camerawork, San Francisco, CA; and La Centrale Gallery Powerhouse, Montreal Quebec, CA; among other venues. Lehner’s writing on art and visual culture has appeared in Art Journal, Journal of Cultural Analysis and Social Change, Media-N: Journal of the New Media Caucus, REFRACT, Journal, Cultural Politics, Visual Studies and more.

This project is made possible through the CNY Arts Grants for Regional Arts and Cultural Engagement regrant program thanks to a New York State Senate Initiative supported by the NYS Legislature, the Office of the Governor and administered by the New York State Council on the Arts.