Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Research, Exhibtion consultation
2023

Queer Nature exhibition opening at Temperate House
Zavala was commissioned to contribute research in preparation for the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew's Queer Nature exhibition. This was delivered as a presentation at Kew's 'think-in' meeting with various collaborators and stake-holders, along with a list of references for further research. Below are some slides from the presentation.

Research presentation slide

Research presentation slide

Research presentation slide

Research presentation slide
Zavala was also invited to shoot interview footage for a video installation in the Queer Nature exhibition. The installation was called Queer Voices with set design by Adam Nathaniel Furman. Other participants in the interviews included artist Jeffrey Gibson, writer Ama Josephine Budge Johnstone, writer LiLi K Bright, and horticulturalist Maymana Arefin.

Queer Nature exhibition map

Queer Voices installation view with Jeffrey Gibson

Sixto-Juan Zavala

Ama Josephine Budge Johnstone

LiLi K Bright

Maymana Arefin
In relation to the Queer Nature exhibition, Zavala was interviewed in September 2023 by Ella Braidwood at The Guardian about queering botany along with artist Jeffrey Gibson, writer Irene Reti, and others. Read the article here.


Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Creative Programmer, Visitor Programmes & Exhibtions: Karishma Rafferty
Head of Visitor Programmes and Exhibitions: Paul Denton
Programmes Producer: Kathryn Gee
Interpretation Producer: Paolo Cocco