New Exhibition Celebrates Paul O'Grady's Life at Williamson Art Gallery

A new exhibition celebrating the life of Paul O'Grady is set to open on December 11 at the Williamson Art Gallery & Museum in Birkenhead. The display, titled You Gotta Get a Gimmick: Paul O'Grady Story, will feature new portraits of O'Grady's drag persona Lily Savage and his dog Buster, along with ceramic figurines.

Seven artists were commissioned to create these works following an open call. The exhibition's creative director, Andre Portasio, who was O'Grady's husband, expressed that O'Grady would have appreciated the inclusion of these new pieces in the gallery's permanent collection. He emphasized O'Grady's ability to connect with diverse communities and the importance of his legacy in inspiring new artistic voices.

Among the commissioned artists, Ben Youdan described the opportunity as an incredible honor, while Alison Friend shared her emotional connection to O'Grady's work, particularly in creating a portrait of Buster. The exhibition aims to reflect O'Grady's lasting impact on British culture and support for LGBTQIA+ artists.