PHILADELPHIA, PA — The William Way LGBT Community Center will open its 20th Annual Juried Art Exhibition on November 5, showcasing the work of 46 emerging and established LGBTQ+ artists from across the Philadelphia region. The exhibition, which runs through December 11, marks both a milestone anniversary for the region’s longest-running LGBTQ+ art show and the start of the Center’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2026.
This year’s exhibition, selected from more than 100 submissions, represents a broad range of artistic backgrounds and experiences — from self-taught creators to artists with advanced degrees in fine arts. Participants range in age from 20 to 87, reflecting the diversity of perspectives within Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ community.
“One of the strengths of our Annual Juried Exhibition is the wide range of artists’ backgrounds and perspectives, which reflect the diversity and vibrancy of our community,” said Jake Foster, Art Exhibitions Manager at the William Way LGBT Community Center. “We’re also thrilled to feature artists who are exhibiting here for the first time alongside those who participated in our earliest exhibitions nearly five decades ago.”
The 2025 exhibition is juried by Stamatina Gregory, Head Curator and Director of Exhibitions and Collections at the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art — the world’s only dedicated LGBTQIA+ art museum. Gregory’s extensive curatorial experience includes the Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania, ICA LA, the 55th Venice Biennale, and The Cooper Union, where they served as Associate Dean of the School of Art.
Visitors can explore a diverse selection of works displayed throughout the Center’s first-floor lobby, spanning multiple mediums, styles, and subjects. All works are available for purchase, with proceeds supporting both the featured artists and the Center’s arts and culture programs.
To commemorate the opening, the Center will host a free public reception on Wednesday, November 5, from 6 to 8 p.m., offering attendees the opportunity to meet the artists and engage with Philadelphia’s creative LGBTQ+ community.
Founded in 1976, the William Way LGBT Community Center has long served as a cornerstone for Philadelphia’s LGBTQIA+ community, offering support services, social programs, and cultural experiences that celebrate diversity and inclusion. The 20th Annual Juried Art Exhibition not only honors two decades of artistic expression but also reinforces the Center’s enduring role as a cultural and community hub for the city’s creative voices.
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