Naked in the museum

Why do we see so many naked bodies on canvases in museums, but never any in the room?

There is a curious tension in museums: houses of images full of bodies, yet stubbornly void of embodiment. We are surrounded by nakedness, but we are never naked ourselves. What happens when the body steps out of the canvas and into the gallery? We take this question as an opportunity for an unusual art and body experience.
We invite you to the first naked tour in our museum – a tour in which both visitors and tour guides are naked.

Naked in the museum

A special art tour through our current exhibition

A free programme for everyone as part of the exhibition

‘Breaks, gaps, leaps – queer temporalities’

Mo 9.06.2025, from 18:15h, QUEER MUSEUM VIENNA

Otto Wagner Areal, C-Building (former Direktion), staircase 2, mezzanine floor,
Baumgartner Höhe 1, 1140 Wien

Guided tours:

  • German: 18:30h
  • English: 20:00h

Registration: education@queermuseumvienna.com

Why do we see so many naked bodies on canvases in museums, but never any in the room?

There is a curious tension in museums: houses of images full of bodies, yet stubbornly void of embodiment. We are surrounded by nakedness, but we are never naked ourselves. What happens when the body steps out of the canvas and into the gallery? We take this question as an opportunity for an unusual art and body experience. 

Nudity in the queer community

For many in the queer community, non-sexual nudity stands for freedom, self-determination and body acceptance. Nudism and naturism create spaces in which bodies are allowed to exist beyond beauty norms – regardless of gender, age or appearance. Many queer people often experience for the first time that they do not have to hide or explain their bodies. Nudity becomes a statement: against shame and bourgeois/religious ideas of bodies and nudity, for radical acceptance of different bodies.

But these spaces are not equally accessible to everyone. For trans, non-binary and inter people in particular, nudity can also be associated with insecurity, exclusion or mistrust – especially in gender-segregated places such as “men only” saunas or changing rooms. The question “Who belongs here?” is often answered via the body, and this is precisely what makes participation difficult or hurtful. Spaces that are supposed to be freeing can thus set new boundaries.

That’s why we need more queer, inclusive spaces in which nudity is respected rather than judged.

We invite you to the first naked tour in our museum – a tour in which both visitors and tour guides are naked. Together we want to start Pride week with an experiment: experiencing your own naked body in a new way in a museum space.

What can you expect?

  • A guided tour through selected works from the current exhibition “Breaks, Gaps, Leaps – Queer Temporalities”
  • A space of acceptance in which nudity is not sexualized and is understood as a natural state. The focus is on the exhibited art and the experience of one’s own naked body in an unfamiliar context.
  • All bodies are welcome

Conditions of participation:

  • The tour is naked – all participants as well as the guides are unclothed during the tour (group changing room available, otherwise it is possible to change in the toilets).
  • Shoes and socks can be left on, we would even ask you to do so ;).
  • From the age of 18
  • There are clear rules of conduct for a respectful and safe setting
    • No staring
    • No touching
    • No comments on other bodies
    • No photo or video recordings allowed!
  • Participation only possible with prior registration. Number of participants is limited.
  • Please note accessibility (see webpage “Your visit”, https://www.queermuseumvienna.com/en/info-eng/)

Registration: education@queermuseumvienna.com

FREE ENTRY – Donations welcome

This event is supported by: