Born from an Instagram page resharing queer artists' work during the pandemic, Queer Art Hub has grown into a dynamic, global platform spotlighting LGBTQI+ creatives across 17 countries—and counting. Built on the mission to democratize art sharing and confront the challenges queer artists face on mainstream platforms, it now serves as a digital sanctuary for expression, connection, and visibility. From community classifieds to artist portfolios and collaborations with cultural spaces like St Martins Lane London, this is more than a website—it’s a movement. Curious how a grassroots idea turned into a worldwide art revolution? Read below to discover the full story.

Where are you based?
New York City, but we operate all around the world. Currently, the platform hosts artists from 17 countries around the world — including US, UK, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Australia, Ireland and we are expanding!

What inspired the creation of Queer Art Hub, and how does it differ from other art platforms?
Queer Art Hub was created really as a way to formalize what I had already been doing — resharing art from queer artists to give them a spotlight during the pandemic. But this takes it one step further, to truly democratize art sharing that any queer artist can have the opportunity to showcase their artwork and reach audiences around the world. While we do admire the work on institutions like Queer|Art, Queer Britain, Leslie Lohman Museum, Queer Circle to advance queer art and artwork — we believe that Queer Art Hub’s value proposition is unique and complements the queer art world and makes it even stronger and better.

Can you walk us through how the platform works - what can artists expect when they join?
We are building the world’s largest queer art community, complete with a searchable portfolio directory and community dedicated to LGBTQI+ artists and their art. When artists sign up for an account, they get their own page dedicated to their artist’s profile, and fill out their own biography, mediums, links to their websites, social media and even indicate if they are available for collaborations, commissions, exhibits or more. Looking for queer artists and artworks? Publish your call for art, open calls, exhibits and collaborations. Our Community Classifieds sections allows anybody - museums, galleries, art institutions, organizations, event planners, businesses - to explore, search and post, whether it’s to promote a queer art show opening, event, exhibit or more. We just launched our Beta Phase publicly, but ultimately our goal is to create a full artist’s ecosystem globally for queer artists.

Queer Art Hub began as a grassroots initiative on Instagram. Could you share the journey from its inception to becoming a global platform?
Essentially everywhere there is a queer art community, we want to exist so the platform fully is an online representation of the queer art world out there. As it first began as an Instagram art account, it has opened up channels of communication and visibility into queer artists of all disciplines from around the world, and I wanted that experience and opportunity for everyone too! Hence, the creation of this global platform and tool that democratizes the process for queer artists to be showcased, from students to emerging talent to established artists alongside one another.

How are you addressing challenges like algorithmic bias and shadow banning faced by queer artists on mainstream platforms?
We observed and gathered feedback from queer artists - from a variety of types of art and mediums - queer art and content, particularly those that explore themes of the body, sexuality, and identity, are frequently flagged and removed at higher rates. This is especially frustrating for queer artists and is discriminatory and a form of erasure. Today, social media can be an important platform for queer artists to connect with audiences, promote their work, and generate sales. However, usage guidelines are often vague and inconsistently applied, censoring more queer art and content than those featuring heterosexual or cisgender content, even when it doesn’t explicitly violate “community guidelines”. Beyond content removal and shadow-banning, some queer artists even face account bans which can severely impact their careers and financial stability.

Tell us about the Exhibit With Pride show at St Martins Lane Hotel. How did this collaboration come together?
The Exhibit With Pride initiative is part of a wider commitment by St Martins Lane London to celebrate and support LGBTQI+ communities - not just during Pride, but year-round. As a long standing hub in one of the world’s most LGBTQI+-inclusive cities, the hotel remains a place where queer people, from its talented staff to its fabulous guests, are welcome, championed and cherished.

Why did you choose textile artist Davey Powell to launch your inaugural Pride Month show.
We’ve followed Davey Powell’s work via Queer Art Hub for a while now. Each of his works carries a rich narrative of joy, resilience, and self-expression, mirroring Powell’s lived experience as a queer artist from the Traveller community, raised among the colour and chaos of a North East fairground in England. This vibrancy of both his background and what St Martins Lane London represents in its hotel and in its ethos, is the perfect combination for this exhibition to come to life.

Each of Powell’s works seems deeply personal. Can you share the stories behind a couple of his featured pieces?
According to Davey, “DON’T BE SHY” reflects his personal history of growing up on the fairground, a loud, energetic space where he often felt out of place. The quilt serves as both a personal reminder and a broader encouragement to step into one’s voice, even in overwhelming environments. The artist chose vibrant colours that create a visual contrast with the softness of the message. This piece is both a reclamation of his past and a push toward self-expression. “TRY YOUR LUCK” is inspired by memories of his Great Aunty Doris, who ran two side games on his family’s fairground, a darts game and a cork-gun shooting stall. As a kid, he would sit beside her while she paced with darts in hand, flicking her wrist and calling out, “Come and have a go, TRY YOUR LUCK.” The phrase stuck with Davey, not just as a call to play, but as a philosophy of resilience and risk. This piece captures the spirit of chance, and it is both a tribute and a reminder to stay open to possibility.

What has the response been like from hotel guests and the public? Any emotional moments or standout reactions?
We heard back from St Martins Lane London’s team during and after the exhibition, that response was overwhelmingly positive! While we only helped to curate and work with the artist, St Martins Lane London did an excellent job integrating the artwork into their overall hotel experience for guests and visitors — we even saw some great social media content in real-time!

What do you think is missing in the current queer art ecosystem, and how is Queer Art Hub addressing that gap?
Traditionally the art world and art market are driven by real, collectible pieces or artists having their work ‘institutionalized’ by traditional exhibitions. This pathway is rather gatekept and doesn’t allow much room for other artists to exist in. Utilizing online as a tool, there are many other ways to help queer artists grow their voice, build visibility and exposure and hopefully, increase opportunities for them to create and/or sell more of their art. With a slowdown in the global art market, increasing algorithm challenges on Big Tech social media platforms, and a shift to online opening up pathways, there is a growing appetite for something like Queer Art Hub. To-date, we’ve seen 400+ artists sign up to our platform from 17+ countries around the world!

How does Queer Art Hub contribute to building safer, more inclusive spaces for queer artists in an increasingly polarized world?
I believe that every individual, organization, business, institution that makes it part of its mission to ensure a safe, diverse and inclusive space is much needed in this world. Queer Art Hub is just one part of collective efforts in this — and for us, ensuring there is a legacy space for queer artists globally that is created for the queer community first, by the queers, is our key goal.

What kinds of stories are emerging from the 400+ artists already on the platform, and what do these narratives tell us about the global queer experience?
It is both inspiring and interesting to see all the different perspectives, mediums and visual expressions of queer artists from around the world, wherein their artwork is rooted in being queer. There’s something really beautiful about that - where we are all united, no matter background, citizenship, level of artistic training - in sharing queer lived experiences that translate into artwork, contrasted with how most of us exist in a very heteronormative world and society, it is almost like a reprieve from a polarized world.

What’s next for Queer Art Hub after Pride Month? Are there upcoming events, features, or expansions in the works?
We’re partnered up with Industry City in Brooklyn for a queer marketplace event on July 26 to showcase an artist. Next, we’re also hoping to roll out more features towards a tiered membership, exploring a direct sales function, and driving more membership and community use to our site so we can keep on growing worldwide!

How can allies and institutions support Queer Art Hub beyond just visibility?
If you’re a queer artist - whether your medium is paint, photography, illustration, multidisciplinary, music, video/film, Queer Art Hub is your platform. We can only grow if more queer artists actively use our platform. And we’re always looking for partnership ideas with businesses, organizations, arts & culture communities. Together we can make a better world for the queer community. #SupportQueerArtists

What is your dream for this platform five years from now?
Queer Art Hub is just a project of Dear Queer Artist, the ‘parent’, which I created so we can dream big — a social impact company working to benefit LGBTQI+ artists, artwork and the community. Our pillars include making queer art profitable, and to build representation for arts & culture in the LGBTQI+ community and beyond. We believe that queer art can and should be sustainable paths. We want as many queer artists to pursue art and develop successful careers in the art world.

To learn more about Queer Art Hub, visit the links below:
queerarthub.com, Instagram, Facebook

Where Visibility Meets Vibrancy: The Queer Art Hub Revolution