Portraits of Pride is a public installation featuring 22, eight-foot-tall, photographed portraits of Bostonians who have been influential LGBTQ+ leaders. This exhibition is on display at the Boston Common near Charles Street until October 29.

The portraits depict individuals who have worked in various public sectors, varying from law to public service and the arts. These images were taken by famed

Olympic photographer John Huet, Among some of the 22 leaders are President of the Boston Public Library David Leonard, Executive Director of the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce Grace Moreno, and Arline Isaacson, long time political lobbyist and consultant.

The display is also being featured on a smaller scale in the Seaport at 60 Seaport Boulevard.

The project is sponsored by organizations, such as The Boston Foundation, Eastern Bank and WS Development; but it began as an independent, self-funded project by curator and creative director Jean E. Dolin.

“There were many ‘nos’ in the beginning. I guess if I didn't get the location, I would just put them up on my porch because that exhibition was just gonna happen somehow, I knew that much,” said Dolin.

Dolin is the Executive Producer at Rainbow Tales, a platform that produces documentary films on LGBTQ+ people and stories.

“I wanted the exhibition to be in a public space so that people could see it without any barrier or any admission fee or parking issues or just being in a building that somehow people maybe feel like they don't belong there.”

After months of fundraising, planning and eventually connecting with Huet, who agreed to volunteer for the project, Dolin began the process of finding and reaching out to the individuals who he wanted to feature in the installation.

“There are people who do this work selflessly but never get honored and they don't care to be honored. All of them deserve the praise. And I don't think they'll ever get enough for the amount of work they've done.” Dolin said.

The current exhibition is the start of Dolin’s plans for Portraits of Pride and Boston’s recognition of its past and present LGBTQ leaders.

“I do have plans to do more exhibits, but ultimately the goal is to launch the first LGBTQ museum in Boston,” Dolin said. “It is not just my vision, it is the vision of some other people that I'm having conversations with, and we are joining efforts to start that institution, which is going to be soon.” In addition to recognizing those who have been influential in the fight for LGBTQ rights, Dolin noted another purpose behind the installation.

“More broadly, it is also to say, thank you to the city itself. It is a love letter to the city of Boston for all the support that they've given me and all the resources they put into me professionally, academically and culturally.”