In his signature series "East Meets West," Hong Kong-born American photographer Tseng Kwong Chi photographed himself wearing a Mao suit and mirrored sunglasses, posing next to emblems of American national identity. Shown from the series here is "San Francisco, California" now in the collection at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

LGBTQ+ Art Activists Who Inspire Change

Here is a celebratory gallery spotlighting queer artists—past and present—whose creative voices continue to shape culture, challenge injustice, and foster belonging.

Throughout Pride Month of June, 2025, Abbetuck honored LGBTQ+ artists whose work speaks powerfully to activism, resilience, and visibility. From boundary-pushing painters and bold drag performers to poetic visionaries and unapologetically queer filmmakers, these thirty artists remind us that art is not merely reflective, it’s revolutionary.

This one-page gallery gathers those daily spotlights into a collective tribute. Each profile carries a story of creative resistance: of transforming exclusion into expression, and silence into spectacle. Some names may be familiar, others gloriously underrecognized, but all are linked by a shared commitment to making art that challenges, heals, and connects.

Their mediums vary, their identities are richly diverse, and their legacies echo across time. Explore, share, revisit, and let these artists’ works continue to deepen our understanding of liberation and belonging.