Whitehot Magazine

Emma Cieslik

Emma Cieslik (she/her) is a queer, disabled and neurodivergent museum professional and writer based in Washington, DC. She is also a queer religious scholar interested in the intersections of religion, gender, sexuality, and material culture, especially focused on queer religious identity and accessible histories. Her previous writing has appeared in The Art Newspaper, ArtUK, Archer Magazine, Religion & Politics, The Revealer, Nursing Clio, Killing the Buddha, Museum Next, Religion Dispatches, and Teen Vogue

articles by this author

An exhibition can be a grimoire: A conversation with queer artist Alexander D’Agostino about his show Something Wicked (2026)

Critiquing body fascism: A conversation with Stephanie Mercedes about their show Inútil

“Lineages of queerness:” A conversation with Mikey Gulcicek about his series photographing queer faith leaders

"Agency within Objecthood": A conversation about embodiment and creation with artist Andrius Alvarez-Backus

Performing artist collective kicks off weekly protests at Kennedy Center

Get Ready for Trans Art Fest!

“Making Sense of the Body:” A conversation with curator Stefano di Paola

Ritual and Reflection in Jax Neal’s 7 Days in December (2025)

Blood as an artistic medium, a conversation with artist Jordan Eagles about his new exhibition Centrifuge (2025)

“Transness will save you:” A conversation about trans salvation and grief with artist A Beaumont

“A Talisman of Strength:” Queer Catholic Iconography in conversation with artist Libby Kercher

Discomforting the able-bodied: A conversation with disabled artist Panteha Abareshi about their new exhibition CAREOTICS

“Constantly falling apart:” A conversation about object permanence with disabled artist Carly Riegger

An altar to the sky, made by Mexican artist Paloma Vianey

The magic of making art and art of making magic: An exploration of Laura Tempest Zakroff’s sigil work

Punk Spirituality: Harnessing Holy Anger with the ALTAR PUNK Zine

“Queer art feels like world-building:” A conversation with Davy Pittoors about Queeriosities 2025

“Transcend Dualism and Binaries:” An interview with Irish artist Niamh Coffey about SIÚNTA

“A sacred and safe place for our people:” An interview with Haylie and Sydnie Jimenez about their new exhibition Speak of the Devil (2025)

Surrounded by Queer Elders: A conversation with artist Salgu Wissmath about their new exhibition Divine Identity

Visualizing a “god of queer liberation:” An interview with queer artist Daniel de Jesús about their new Philadelphia exhibition

“Soft mortification of the flesh:” A review of EJ Hill’s Low-slung Promises on the Tongues of the Devout (2025)

“A safe, protective, spiritual space:” A conversation with curators Gemma Rolls-Bentley and E-J Scott about the new exhibition Talisman

Exploding Gender in Culture Lab LIC’s new exhibition [Un]framing Gender (2025)

“Dyke is our armor:” A conversation with dyke artist Sarah-Joy Ford’s about her new exhibition Dykeland (2025)

Visions of Pride and Protest: An Interview with Lesbian Artist Leigh H. Mosley

Don’t Rain on Our Parade: A Review of Francisco Alvarado-Juárez’s Out of the Closets!

Radical Queer Intimacy: An Interview with Gay Curator Jon Horrocks about “Queer Love”

Portraits of Angels: An Interview with Queer Artist Leonard Baby about "The Babys"

“This pamphlet is my stigmata:” An Interview with Lesbian Poet and Artist Danielle Wilde about “Saint Joan of BFD”

Saint Sylvia’s Feast Day: A Reflection on MCCNY’s Tribute to a Trans Icon

A Prayer for Queer Futures, A Review of Frances Marshall’s Queer Religion (2023-2024)

A Queer Homecoming at the Leslie-Lohman Museum in NYC