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Jane Hilton's Cowboys & Queens celebrates the modern American dream

Edie © Jane Hilton; Justin Anz, Ranch Hand, Olney, Texas © Jane Hilton; Mirage © Jane Hilton; Pate Meinzer, Cowboy, Benjamin, Texas © Jane Hilton

Organized by The Little Black Gallery London, Jane Hilton's Cowboys & Queens opens March 27 at the Freyboy Art Salon in Las Vegas.

Alexa © Jane Hilton

$Alexa \u00a9 Jane Hilton$

Alexa © Jane Hilton

Photographer Jane Hilton is coming to America with a new exhibit, Cowboys & Queens, organized by Ghislain Pascal and The Little Black Gallery in London (@thelittleblackgallery). Cowboys & Queens opens March 27 and runs through May 10 at the Freyboy Art Salon in Las Vegas, Nevada. The exhibit then visits Los Angeles and Tulsa before closing next year in NYC.

Buff Plains, Valley of the Gods © Jane Hilton

$Buff Plains, Valley of the Gods \u00a9 Jane Hilton$

Buff Plains, Valley of the Gods © Jane Hilton

Cowboys & Queens reflects a modern-day American Dream: A utopian cocktail celebrating the freedom and quiet, rugged resolve of the iconic working cowboy with the flamboyance and creativity of the drag queen.

Chris Lawrence, Rancher, Seymour, Texas © Jane Hilton

$Chris Lawrence, Rancher, Seymour, Texas \u00a9 Jane Hilton$

Chris Lawrence, Rancher, Seymour, Texas © Jane Hilton

Both cowboy and queen represent liberty, independence, individuality, and endless possibilities. Stunning blue skies and western landscapes by day, and the frisson of nightclubs and bars by night.

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Coming Soon Nothing, Nevada © Jane Hilton

$Coming Soon Nothing, Nevada \u00a9 Jane Hilton$

Coming Soon Nothing, Nevada © Jane Hilton

Photographer Jane Hilton has drawn inspiration for the exhibited works from Sergio Leone, Tarantino, Dorsey Swan, Ru Paul, and John Huston’s classic 1961 film, The Misfits starring Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe.

Corset Legs © Jane Hilton

$Corset Legs \u00a9 Jane Hilton$

Corset Legs © Jane Hilton

Hilton worked closely with drag artists who created their Western-inspired attire, from wigs and makeup to handcrafted accessories. When they stepped into the vast natural light of the American West, Hilton captured them without artificial lighting or any digital manipulation, creating an arresting juxtaposition of glamour, grit, and the romanticism of cowboy culture.

Cowboys © Jane Hilton

$Cowboys \u00a9 Jane Hilton$

Cowboys © Jane Hilton

Alongside these portraits are images of authentic cowboys, also shot on film with a 4x5 plate camera. Hilton has photographed cowboys in their own homes, surrounded by their authentic artifacts of Western heritage and culture.

Edie © Jane Hilton

$Edie \u00a9 Jane Hilton$

Edie © Jane Hilton

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.

Ford Pick-Up, Ute Mountain © Jane Hilton

$Ford Pick-Up, Ute Mountain \u00a9 Jane Hilton$

Ford Pick-Up, Ute Mountain © Jane Hilton

The Cowboys & Queen US Tour by Jane Hilton starts at Freyboy Art Salon in Las Vegas from 27 March – 10 May. Followed by Los Angeles with FreyBoy Art Salon; Tulsa, Oklahoma at The Hulett Collection; and in New York at Palo Gallery. The tour has been organized by The Little Black Gallery London. The book can be purchased online from thelittleblackgallery.com.