Clifford Chance is again celebrating Gay Pride with an international series of exhibitions showcasing the work of some of the best lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and supported artists at its offices in Amsterdam, London, Paris, Hong Kong, New York, Washington D.C., Sydney and, for the first time, Perth and Singapore.
Organised by Arcus, the firm’s LGBT and allies employee network, the London strand of the exhibition will be held on the building’s ground floor and feature works from eight artists. The works themselves vary immensely in both their construction and size, yet all reflect on the challenges still faced by the LGBT community. The exhibiting artists are Annie Attridge, Paul Coombs, Lothar Götz, Martin Gustavsson, Louise Leonard, Mark Hamish Morrow, Fiona Shaw and Matt Smith.
Clifford Chance senior partner Malcolm Sweeting comments: “I am immensely proud of the Arcus network’s achievements over the past ten years, from its pro bono and community partnerships to its vital role in assisting our recruitment team in recruiting and retaining the best talent, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
“The highlight of the Arcus calendar is the annual Pride Art Exhibition which has grown to be one of the biggest corporate supported exhibitions of work by LGBT+ artists in the world, with parallel exhibitions occurring simultaneously in several of our offices.”
Michael Petry, artist and founding curator of the London exhibitions, adds: “Many things have become much more equal for LGBTQ people in the UK, like marriage and civil partnerships, yet at the same time disturbing events from Chechnya to the USA continue to threaten and undermine the safety and rights of LGBTQ people. So while we have a lot to celebrate, we also still have to keep looking over our shoulder, or directly at those who actively aim to harm LGBTQ people, for they are not a fiction, they are not an artwork, nor are they performance art. In their own way, all of the exhibiting artists do just that.”
Clifford Chance is one of the world’s pre-eminent law firms with significant depth and range of resources across five continents. As a single, fully integrated, global partnership, we pride ourselves on our approachable, collegiate and team-based way of working. We always strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, which include corporates from all the commercial and industrial sectors, governments, regulators, trade bodies and not for profit organisations. We provide them with the highest quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.
In addition to organising the Pride Art Exhibition, Arcus, the firm’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) and allies employee network, is involved in a number of activities throughout the year, including pro bono legal work and supporting the LGBT community and charitable organisations.
Clifford Chance’s commitment to art for over two decades has ensured that the firm now has a remarkable collection of over 1,200 limited edition prints, including works by Whistler, David Hockney, Bridget Riley and Antony Gormley. The firm has also developed an art programme, which includes an Arts Club, in-house exhibitions, and corporate art patronage.
Top image: Annie Attridge Middle: Lothar Gotz Photos Courtesy of the Artists
The exhibition runs from 19 June – 14 July 2017 at Clifford Chance, 10 Upper Bank Street, London E14 5JJ. Open by appointment contact nigel.frank@cliffordchance.com.