Beyond the Binary: Marlow Moss

To celebrate the NGV’s landmark acquisition of queer British artist Marlow Moss’s painting Composition yellow, blue, black, red and white, 1956-57, on display at NGV International, we reflect on Moss’s indelible contributions to 20th century queer art and culture.

Moss is well known for their abstract works of art in a style known as Neoplasticism and has been associated with influential figures like Piet Mondrian. Throughout their life and career, Moss embraced queer modes of appearance, art making and being, from their open relationships with women to their preference for androgynous dress.

Hear about Moss’s contributions to the Neoplasticist movement, and how living an openly queer life shaped their artistic practice.

About the Speakers

Meg Slater is Curator of International Exhibition Projects at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Since 2017, Meg has worked on eight of the NGV’s major international exhibitions, including MoMA at NGV: 130 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art, 2018; Keith Haring | Jean Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines, 2019/20, Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi, 2023; and Yayoi Kusama, 2024/25. Meg was also one of the five curators who organised QUEER: Stories from the NGV Collection, 2022. In 2021, Meg completed a Master of Art Curatorship at the University of Melbourne with First-Class Honours.

Laura Castagnini is a curator, researcher and writer interested in the politics of gender, race and sexuality. Laura has worked in the visual arts for over 15 years, with roles including Curator at ACMI in Melbourne and Assistant Curator, Modern and Contemporary British Art at Tate in London. They hold a Master of Arts (Art History) from the University of Melbourne and are currently studying towards a Graduate Certificate in Sexology at Curtin University. Laura’s writing can be found in numerous exhibition catalogues and publications including ANZJA, OnCurating, L’Internationale, Artlink, Memo, Contemporary Hum, Un magazine and frieze.

NGV & Midsumma: Queer Histories, Futures & Creativity

Coming together again in 2026, NGV and Midsumma present a series of programs that celebrate queer histories, futures and creativity.

Featuring curator-led tours, conversations and a special edition of NGV Friday Nights, these programs will highlight LGBTQIA+ stories from the early twentieth century through to the present, exploring NGV Collection artworks and the Westwood | Kawakubo and Women Photographers 1900 – 1975: A Legacy of Light exhibitions at NGV International.

For more information visit: https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/program/ngv-x-midsumma/