Group Exhibition at the Mexican Embassy, London

ChrisJ
Aug 8
2 min read

Chris Jepson with Mexican Ambassador to UK, Josefa Gonzalez-Blanco

I was honoured to be selected to participate in the group show at the Embassy of Mexico in London – Q·4.0: The Power of Identity – the fourth edition of this trailblazing celebration of Queer creativity, where art becomes a powerful force for identity, visibility and connection.

In front of an audience of LGBTQIA+ creatives, allies, diplomats and the Mexican Ambassador to UK, Josefa Gonzalez-Blanco, I unveiled the gorgeous portrait of Miss Disney from my new series UNCUT.

UNCUT is a celebration of Queer Identity. Shot in a barber’s chair, no filters, no retouching, no compromise. Just bold, beautiful people taking up space exactly as they are.

Barbershops have long been places of transformation – places where identities are shaped, confidence is built and stories are shared. But they haven’t always been welcoming for everyone. UNCUT reclaims that space for queer bodies, queer styles and queer joy. It’s about authenticity, visibility and saying ‘this is me’ without hesitation.

Maria, Miss Disney, is a plus size femme lesbian, nudist and a SA survivor and says, “choosing to be naked is not just an act of liberation – it’s a reclamation. For so long, my body was something others tried to define for me, whether through abuse, judgment or shame. But nudity, for me, is not about being seen through someone else’s lens – it’s about seeing myself clearly, fully, and without apology. It’s a way to reclaim agency over a body that has survived, endured, and still chooses joy.”