Qtopia Sydney and the European Union Delegation to Australia presents
LOVING
A Photographic History of Men in Love, 1850s–1950s
Curated photographs from the Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell Collection
Qtopia Sydney, in association with the European Union (EU) Delegation to Australia, is thrilled to present LOVING, a photographic collection capturing intimate moments of male love between the 1850s and 1950s by American collectors and married couple, Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell, open from February 5th, 2026.
Hosted at the largest centre for Queer history and culture in the world, Qtopia Sydney, the landmark exhibition draws from the extraordinary private collection of more than 4,000 images of men in love by Nini and Treadwell from flea markets, auction houses, family albums and online collections across the globe over a period of more than two decades.
When Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell discovered an old photograph of two men in love at an antique store in Dallas, Texas, 25 years ago, they had no idea how profoundly it would change their lives — and illuminate a hidden history.
That single image sparked a global journey, taking them across the United States, Canada, Europe, the UK, Australia and Asia in search of photographs capturing men in love.
Guided by what they call “the unmistakable look” of love, Nini and Treadwell assembled more than 4,000 images of male couples taken between the 1850s and 1950s — quiet, tender portraits of connection that defied convention and were often kept hidden.
In 2020, their groundbreaking book LOVING: A Photographic History of Men in Love, 1850s–1950s brought hundreds of these photographs to public view, revealing the depth and universality of love across generations.
Long absent from public history, these images reveal tender, resilient relationships between men during eras marked by social constraint and legal persecution. Together, the works form a powerful visual testament to the universality of love, the quiet defiance of authenticity, and the enduring courage of intimacy.
LOVING brings to light the lives and stories of male couples from around the world, reminding us that love transcends time, borders, and circumstance.
For more information, please visit: qtopiasydney.com.au
