Galleries

Art Exhibitions

Upcoming Exhibitions:

BRICK BY BRICK 3

Off the Wall at Dirty Frank’s, in partnership with William Way

April 26–June 19, 2026

Two Receptions: April 30th and June 14th

The William Way LGBT Community Center is excited to partner with Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Frank’s for their exhibition Brick By Brick 3, a juried exhibition of LGBTQIA+ artists, on view in Philadelphia’s Gayborhood during Pride Month.

Off The Wall Gallery is Philadelphia’s pioneering alternative art venue since 1978, located in Dirty Franks, in the heart of the Gayborhood. The exhibition is on view from April 26th until June 19th, 2026 during the bar’s hours (please note: entry is currently open to those 25+ only). Join us for our opening and closing receptions; on Thursday, April 30, 7-10PM, and Sunday, June 14, 2-5PM. Artwork is available for sale in-person and online at Off the Wall Gallery’s website here: www.offthewallgallery.org

This Is (Not) a Celebration: Queer Resistance 1976/2026

A Radical Americana exhibition featuring artwork by Scarlett DeLorme, Justin Jain, & Amy Cousins with materials from the John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archives

Curated by Jake Foster, Exhibitions Manager, William Way LGBT Community Center

June 11 - July 3, 2026

Opening Reception: Thursday, June 11, 6-9PM

Huddle, 338 Brown Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123

This Is (Not) a Celebration: Queer Resistance, 1976/2026 brings together artwork by Philadelphia-based artists Scarlett DeLorme, Justin Jain, and Amy Cousins organized by the William Way LGBT Community Center. Each artist was invited to create work in dialogue with materials from the John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archives—the most extensive collection documenting the history of Philadelphia’s LGBTQ community. Within the civic reflection of the 250th of the United States, This Is (Not) a Celebration shifts the focus from commemoration to resistance. Scarlett DeLorme's wet plate photography, Justin Jain's ceramics, and Amy Cousins print and fiber installations insist that 1976 was not a moment of patriotic consensus, but one of queer defiance.

Learn More Here

Past Exhibitions:

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

About the Art Gallery

Installation view of *Tonight is Forever* by Gabriel Martinez, 2019

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.

Art Newsletter

WayOut: Philly Queer Arts Newsletter

WayOut is a monthly arts email newsletter brought to you by the Arts Committee at the William Way LGBT Community Center. WayOut promotes the Center’s art exhibitions and cultural programming and fosters a community for queer artists and creatives in the greater Philadelphia region. Subscribers to our newsletter are the first to learn about upcoming exhibitions, open calls for submissions, and other LGBTQ art-related events throughout the city.

View current and past newsletters online here, and subscribe to receive our monthly email here.

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