We celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people (LGBTQ+) with this selection of artists who created art, sometimes under extreme pressure to conform to institutionalized norms. You may recognize some artists but didn’t know that they were part of the Queer Community. Others may be missing from this list because they lived in times where revealing one’s true identity could lead to societal exclusion, jail, or worse. While art historians have theorized and researchers have combed records, no absolute proof exists.

Museums, as part of their commitment to inclusivity, are exhibiting and collecting works by LGBTQIA+ people who have always been part of the creative community. We celebrate these artists every day and strive to include multiple, diverse LGBTQ+ voices. We will continue to add to this list.