An Impossibly Normal Life chronicles a personal history, situated in a reality in which queer family structures and gender non-conforming individuals are not only commonplace but openly celebrated. Inspired by artist Matthew Finley’s discovery that he once had an uncle who may have been gay, the artworks on view depict an America where individuals like Finley’s Uncle Ken are given the opportunity to experience life’s big moments without fear. Finley creates windows into a parallel universe that follows Uncle Ken’s life through an immersive installation of found photographs, household items, and invented letters written by the artist, reclaiming ordinary moments and centering queer joy. The exhibition chronicles Uncle Ken’s life as if one were flipping through a family photo album, highlighting moments such as his first heartbreak and his time in the Navy, all the way up to his marriage and the beginnings of his own family. By embellishing many of the images with glitter, rhinestones, and sequins, Finley reframes the past with a sense of pride. Together, these works create a fictional yet affectionate portrait of Uncle Ken and offer a vision of a more inclusive and hopeful future.

Image credit: Matthew Finley, Rebel, Brute and I in the Navy, 2024, Archival inkjet print mounted to board, glitter and varnish. Courtesy of the Artist.