About the Queer Art Salon

The Queer Art Salon (QAS) is an annual project curated by Ashley Jaye Williams and Abbey Alison McClain. Created in 2023, this exhibition is a celebration of the Queer visual artist experience in DC. We have worked hard to build a roster of artists that represents the diversity and range of the Greater Washington, DC LGBTQ+ visual artist community. QAS highlights a broad spectrum of identities, experiences, and artistic expressions.

The Queer Art Salon was conceived to demonstrate that Queer creatives exist in myriad forms, formats, and iterations. There is no single narrative or expected outcome. The works presented can be overtly gay or subvert all expectations. This exhibition celebrates the full range of Queer experiences, encompassing both joy and sorrow, and embracing intersectional thoughts and lived experiences.

Our aim is to transcend the confines of identity while recognizing its profound influence on our creativity. The Queer Art Salon is a space where identity is both a fundamental aspect of our being and a catalyst for diverse artistic exploration. Through this ongoing exhibition, we invite viewers to engage with the multiplicity of Queer voices and perspectives, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of LGBTQ+ art and artists. The LGBTQ+ story is also an immigrant story, a disabled story, a Black story, a latino story, a youthful story, an aging story, a classically trained story, a self-taught story.