The Little Black Gallery is delighted to announce the ongoing US tour by Jane Hilton of her series Cowboys & Queens – opening this Friday 19 September at The Hulett Collection in Tulsa, Oklahoma.Â
A book Cowboys & Queens has been published to accompany the tour. Cowboys & Queens reflects the new modern-day American Dream. A utopian cocktail that celebrates the freedom and stance of the iconic working cowboy, with the flamboyance and inventiveness of the drag queen.
Cowboys & Queens reflects the new modern-day American Dream. A utopian cocktail that celebrates the freedom and stance of the iconic working cowboy, with the flamboyance and inventiveness of the drag queen.
The inspiration is indisputable: from Sergio Leone and Tarantino, to Dorsey Swan and Ru Paul. Stunning blue skies and western landscapes by day, and the frisson of nightclubs and bars by night.
Both represent liberty and endless possibilities. A new frontier has emerged … a new Americana.
Picture: Buff Plains by Jane Hilton – prices start from $1,100
Inspired by John Huston’s classic film The Misfits (1961), Hilton worked closely with a vibrant community of drag artists who painstakingly created their own Western-inspired attire, from wigs and makeup to handcrafted accessories. In a bold departure from their usual nightlife habitats, the performers stepped into the vast natural light of the American West, without artificial lighting or any digital manipulation, creating an arresting juxtaposition of glamour, grit, and the romanticism of cowboy culture.
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Picture: Edie by Jane Hilton – prices start from $2,350
Alongside these portraits are images of authentic cowboys, also shot on film with a 4×5 plate camera. From the buckaroos of Nevada to the cowpunchers of Texas, Hilton has photographed cowboys in their own homes, surrounded by western artefacts, revealing their obsession with the lifestyle. Not only is their need to hold onto their heritage clearly visible, but their softer, possibly more feminine side is also exposed. Hilton’s own affection for the American West is clearly palpable.
Picture: Justin Anz by Jane Hilton – prices start from $1,100
Jane Hilton’s work has long explored American culture with a poetic sensitivity, capturing worlds that exist on the fringes of societal norms. Cowboys & Queens is no exception—challenging perceptions, blending genres, and celebrating the spirit of reinvention. These unforgettable portraits invite us to reflect on identity, transformation, and the ever-evolving American dream.
Picture: Miss Alexis Mateo by Jane Hilton – prices start from $2,350
Jane Hilton is an award winning photographer and filmmaker whose work brings to our attention the extraordinary realities of ordinary people’s lives.
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Her many accolades include being awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society; being shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards; and chosen as one of the ‘Hundred Heroines’ representing the most inspirational women in photography today.
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Her monographs include Dead Eagle Trail (Schilt Pub); Precious (Schilt Pub); and LA Gun Club.
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Jane is fascinated by subjects that are legal but not socially acceptable. In 2000 she make a series of documentary films for the BBC about two brothels in Nevada; Love for Sale, the only state in America where prostitution is legal. Most recently she has spent the last eight years filming The Last Lion Tamer – following a family’s fight to save their lifestyle as the government intends to ban all wild animals performing in circuses.
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She has exhibited internationally with solo shows at Palo Gallery (NYC), Eleven Gallery (London), Schilt Gallery (Amsterdam); and group shows at Daniel Cooney Fine Art (NYC), and Jerwood Gallery (Hastings, UK); as well as at Photo London.
Picture: Chris Lawrence by Jane Hilton – prices start from $1,100
The Cowboys & Queen Tour by Jane Hilton is organised by The Little Black Gallery.
FreyBoy Art Salon, Las Vegas: March 27 – May 10 2025
The Hulett Collection, Tulsa, Oklahoma: 19 September – 15 November 2025
Palo Gallery, NYC: January – March 2026
Picture: Mirage by Jane Hilton – prices from $2,350
The Little Black Gallery