Pride Month 2025: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Art Across the U.S.

29 May 2025

During Pride Month, consider parades, exhibits and screenings to enrich your understanding of the LGBTQ+ community. At bottom, Capital Pride events in Washington, D.C., which is hosting WorldPride in 2025.AARP (Getty Images, 3; Courtesy Capital Pride Alliance)

As Pride Month 2025 unfolds, art institutions across the United States are showcasing a diverse array of exhibitions and events that honor and explore LGBTQ+ identities, histories, and cultures. Amidst a backdrop of political challenges and societal shifts, these cultural offerings provide spaces for reflection, celebration, and community engagement.

Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, New York City

The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art in New York City is presenting a series of queer-oriented events throughout June. The festivities commence on June 7 with a vibrant street party featuring live music, a live screen-printing session of historic protest posters, and a cyanotype workshop where attendees can create their own prints using sunlight. The museum is also exhibiting "Young Joon Kwak: Resisterhood" and "ficciones patógenas," a group show dedicated to the sexual and gender diversity of Indigenous peoples in the Americas.

Dallas Arts District, Texas

On June 20, the Dallas Arts District will host a Pride Block Party, with parallel offerings at local arts institutions including the Crow Museum of Asian Art, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Nasher Sculpture Center. The event aims to celebrate LGBTQ+ culture and foster community engagement through art, music, and interactive experiences.

Rainbow History Project, Washington, D.C.

In Washington, D.C., the Rainbow History Project is presenting "Pickets, Protests, and Parades: The History of Gay Pride in Washington," as part of WorldPride 2025. This free outdoor exhibition at Freedom Plaza runs from May 17 through July 7 and highlights the activism of the Mattachine Society of Washington and the April 1965 White House picket, challenging the notion that the LGBTQ+ rights movement began with the Stonewall Riots.

National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C.

The National Museum of Women in the Arts is hosting "Guerrilla Girls: Making Trouble," marking the 40th anniversary of the feminist art collective known for their provocative posters and public appearances in gorilla masks. The exhibition reflects on decades of activism challenging sexism and racism in the art world.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, California

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is featuring "Zanele Muholi: Eye Me," showcasing the work of the South African visual activist. Muholi's powerful black-and-white portraits document and celebrate the lives of Black LGBTQ+ individuals, confronting issues of identity, representation, and social justice.

Despite facing increased discrimination and challenges, LGBTQ+ communities and allies continue to find strength and expression through art. These exhibitions and events across the United States not only celebrate Pride Month but also serve as vital platforms for visibility, dialogue, and resilience. They invite audiences to engage with the rich tapestry of LGBTQ+ experiences and histories, fostering understanding and solidarity.