Galleries

Art Exhibitions

Refigured, Unframed: An Exhibition with Philly Queer Life Drawing

In-Person: May 8 - June 30, 2025, at the William Way LGBT Community Center

Drag King Life Drawing Session: Sunday, June 8, 1 – 4PM, tickets available here

The William Way LGBT Community Center proudly presents Refigured, Unframed, a bold new exhibition in collaboration with Philly Queer Life Drawing, on view from May 8 to June 30, 2025. This vibrant showcase consists of artwork featuring queer, trans+, fat, disabled, Black, and Brown models.

Upcoming Exhibition:

19 Portraits: Honoring Black LGBTQ+ Philadelphians, by Prince Anthony Thomas

In-Person: June 5 - June 30, 2025, at the William Way LGBT Community Center

Opening Reception: Thursday, June 5, 6-8PM

In honor of Juneteenth, the William Way LGBT Community Center presents “19 Portraits: Honoring Black LGBTQ+ Philadelphians”, an exhibition by Prince Anthony Thomas on view from June 5 - 30th, 2025. This exhibition features exquisite pencil renderings of well-known and beloved figures in our community, accompanied by biographies that pay homage to their contributions (please note the Center will be closed for Juneteenth on Thursday, June 19th).

Past Exhibitions:

Please see this list of Past Art Exhibitions from 2020-present, including archived virtual exhibitions.

Art Gallery

About the Art Gallery

Since opening in 1976, the William Way LGBT Community Center has been committed to highlighting the work of LGBTQIA+ artists from the Philadelphia region, providing a vital platform for their creative expression. Each year, we produce at least six major exhibitions, including the Annual Juried Art Exhibition. Collaborations with our John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives offer artists a wealth of historical resources to inspire new work. Our exhibitions are enriched with supplemental programming, such as artist talks, discussions, and workshops, bringing in additional visitors and deepening engagement with the Center. Most art featured in the gallery is available for sale with 35 percent of profits donated directly to the Center. For more information, please contact arts@waygay.org.

Arts Committee

The Arts Committee is a community-based volunteer committee that encourages, supports and celebrates the artistic expression and diversity of sexuality and gender expression through visual arts exhibitions produced by and about LGBTQ communities. Supporting and encouraging arts by the LGBTQ communities of the Greater Philadelphia Region is the Arts Committee’s major focus. We have a call for new committee members annually in December.

Archives Gallery

About the John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archives Gallery

Special exhibitions in the Center’s Archives Gallery highlight important LGBT cultural and historical moments with photographs, documents and ephemera from William Way’s own Archives. For more information, please contact John Anderies.

On-site exhibitions for the Archives are on pause. Please see the Archives’ exhibition page for information on our digital exhibitions.

Artist Opportunities

Call for Artists:

Trans | Post 2025

The William Way LGBT Community Center in Philadelphia invites trans+ artists to submit postcard-size art for Trans | Post 2025, an exhibition on view at the Center from July 10 - August 28, 2025. The theme is open; we want to highlight the art and opinions of a diverse range of community members from the Philadelphia region and beyond. Postcards from the exhibition become part of our John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archives, and will serve as a document to preserve trans+ perspectives during this time.

For more information and submission instructions, please see this link.

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