July 21, 2025–January 25, 2026
The Met
Casa Susanna offers an intimate and profound look into a hidden community from the 1960s—cross-dressers who found solace and self-expression in two discreet resorts operated by Susanna Valenti and Marie Tornell. Located in New York City and the Catskill Mountains, these modest retreats became safe havens where guests could explore their femme identities in an era marked by rigid gender expectations. Photography played a pivotal role, as visitors captured candid and theatrical moments of themselves, documenting and affirming their gender expressions. These treasured images, rediscovered decades later in a Manhattan flea market, have come to be celebrated as the iconic Casa Susanna photographs.
The exhibition also showcases issues of Transvestia, an underground magazine integral to this community, featuring a rich tapestry of fiction, poetry, beauty advice, and personal narratives. This publication not only disseminated the photographs but also nurtured a sense of connection among readers who often led isolated lives due to societal stigma.
During the 1960s, most cross-dressers lived double lives, balancing their femme personas with conventional roles such as married professionals. This exhibition sheds light on their complex realities, illustrating the range of feminine ideals they embraced—from the approachable “girl next door” to the dignified matron—reflecting both inspiring freedoms and societal constraints. Casa Susanna thoughtfully contextualizes this pre-Stonewall scene, tracing its enduring impact on contemporary transgender experiences.
Organized collaboratively by the Art Gallery of Ontario, Les Rencontres d’Arles, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, this exhibition is a remarkable opportunity to engage with a pivotal chapter in gender and cultural history.
Admission is free with museum entry, making it accessible to all visitors eager to deepen their understanding of identity, community, and resilience. For more details, visit the official exhibition page.
