This striking Giant Playing Card with the Queen of Hearts represented by queer icon Freddie Mercury was designed and painted by celebrated local artist Michelle Mildenhall. Her artwork was selected from the large number of entries to Curious Agenda's artist Open Call. 

In the artist’s words: “Here’s Freddie Mercury reimagined as the Queen of Hearts—bold, defiant, and regal. Playing the town with his fearless queer glamour and camp charm, he dons a crown of unapologetic self-expression, embodying the essence of a self-made icon—he is the Queen.”

Nestled in the gorgeous surroundings of Hair & Hound, this installation invites you to explore the vibrant blend of art and identity, highlighting the playful spirit that defines our community.

Michelle Mildenhall is a Hastings based latex artist, whose work often explores fetish subcultures.

Her work is highly individual, each portrait is meticulously constructed using sheet latex and the artist has literally carved a unique niche with her work, which not only appeals to art lovers but to rubber fetishists too. The exact proportions of cut latex shapes are layered to create instantly recognisable portraits with a nod to pop art using expanses of colour.

Through her bold imagery, Mildenhall examines both empowerment and vulnerability often by fetishising iconic personalities in her distinctive pop art style. Her work is confronting and has the power to shock and move the viewer, a feeling that is increased further by the use of a restrained palette, seducing the viewer into a world of disconcerting beauty. By using popular but somewhat taboo BDSM themes, her artworks exude sexual association, but never touch on obscenity

Mildenhall has sold pieces worldwide and is gaining widespread attention, exhibiting in many prestigious galleries including the Saatchi Gallery, London, La Luz De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles and Sin City Gallery in Las Vegas and she has been photographed by the renowned photographer Rankin for his “THE UNSEEN” exhibition in London . Her work has been featured on several television programs, in the press and her bestselling piece QE2, made the front cover of Skin Two, an internationally distributed magazine.

Instagram: @michellemildenhall_artist

The fabulous backdrop for the installation is Hair and Hound 

“Hair at the front, coffee at the back. A dual purpose space serving Craft House coffee, lunch and cakes, and a full salon. Join us once a month for supperclubs, and Friday nights for cocktails. Available for catering and private hire too. Keep an eye on our socials for updates."

Instagram: @hairandhoundhastings