Long Beach’s creative pulse beats a little louder this November as the inaugural Long Beach Queer ArtFest takes over the city from Nov. 14 through Nov. 16, transforming galleries, churches, studios, and public spaces into a sprawling, three-day celebration of queer art, performance, and community.
Over the course of one weekend, the city becomes a living gallery: exhibitions. Drag shows. Workshops. Live music. And open studios that celebrate the artists who’ve long given Long Beach its creative edge. From 4th Street to Signal Hill, from DTLB to 2nd Street, the event highlights not just art, but the heartbeat of the queer community that makes this city what it is.
“Queer ArtFest is more than an art show—it’s a weekend-long celebration of queer art and artists, community, connection, representation, and queer joy,” said Lucas Gordon, creator and organizer of the festival. “Because Long Beach is more than just a queer-welcoming city. It’s a city defined, in part, by its queerness.”
The art of freedom, joy, and resilience
For drag icon Jewels Long Beach, who’s both a performer and philanthropist, the festival is an embodiment of that spirit.
“The Art of Drag, for me, means freedom in the most fabulous way—the freedom to express ourselves as an artistic representation of gender and, well, fabulosity,” Jewels said.
That same ethos carries through artists like Devon Reiffer, whose work bridges activism and artistry. “Being an artist, especially a queer artist for social change, is more important now than ever before. Art is a form of resilience and protest, and having the opportunity to connect with people through something I create with my own hands is the reason I wake up every day,” Reiffer said. “Being part of LB Queer ArtFest is an honor—it’s about using art as a safe space for community. This is a game changer.”
Queer art as the soul of the city
Long Beach has always carried a creative queerness at its core—one expressed in murals and music, drag and dance, activism and architecture. Queer ArtFest is not introducing that spirit; it’s recognizing it, celebrating it, and giving it a citywide platform.
It’s also a reminder that art is resistance, especially in a time when queer expression is still politicized. The festival isn’t just a showcase; it’s a love letter to visibility, a promise that queer creativity will continue to shape the city’s cultural future. Because in Long Beach, queerness isn’t a sidebar to the arts—it’s part of the main story. And this November, that story gets told in full color.
Now, let’s explore the full schedule…
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14
The LGBTQ Center Long Beach — 2017 E 4th St
- 11AM–6PM: Centering Queer Art & The Art of Pride art exhibition
- 12PM: Opening Reception for Artists
- 1:30PM–2:30PM: Community Art Making Event led by Artist Rebekah Rose
Tavi Art Gallery — 5229 2nd St
- 11AM–9PM: Color is Freedom gallery featuring colorful queer art
Plantiitas Plant Store — 2011 E 4th St
- 12PM–5PM: The Nature of Queer Art — Queer Artist Market featuring multiple visual artists
Historical Society of Long Beach — 4260 Atlantic Ave
- 1PM–5PM: Queer Art & History in the LBC — Historic Photography & Design Exhibition
Hamburger Mary’s Long Beach — 330 Pine Ave
- 1PM–5PM: Drag Me To the Art — Queer Artist Market featuring multiple visual artists
- 9:30PM–1AM: The Queer Art Ball Opening Party
Grace United Methodist Church — 2325 E 3rd St
- 2PM–4PM: Mic Drop — Queer Stage Show with live performance artists
- 2PM–7PM: Spirituality & Queer Art — Queer Artist Market with multiple visual artists
- 4PM: Paper Bag Confessions — One-Man Show by Doyle Smiens
The Men’s Room Bar — 1744 E Broadway
- 6PM–10PM: The Art of the Male Form
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15
Tavi Art Gallery — 5229 2nd St
- 10AM–9PM: Color is Freedom — Gallery featuring colorful queer art
Open Gallery Long Beach — 738 E 7th St
- 10:30AM–11:30AM: Queer Yoga led by Artist Rebekah Rose
- Exhibition Preview: Sneak peek at the gallery’s new show
Plantiitas Plant Store — 2011 E 4th St
- 12PM–5PM: The Nature of Queer Art — Queer Artist Market with multiple visual artists
The Vault — 1000 E New York St, 4th Floor
- 1PM–5PM: Open Artist Studio featuring Sam Hopwood, Whit Whitley, and S.M. Shifflett
(A greeter will guide you through the building; no passenger elevator.)
Historical Society of Long Beach — 4260 Atlantic Ave
- 1PM–5PM: Queer Art & History in the LBC — Historic Photography & Design Exhibition
Hamburger Mary’s Long Beach — 330 Pine Ave
- 2PM–6PM: Drag Me To the Art — Queer Artist Market with multiple visual artists
- 4PM–6PM: Mic Drop — Queer Stage Show with live performance artists
Grace United Methodist Church — 2325 E 3rd St
- 2PM–7PM: The Soul of Queer Art — Queer Artist Market with multiple visual artists
St. Thomas Episcopal Church — 5306 E Arbor Rd
- 2PM–10PM: Bringing House to Church — Art activations, rotating house DJs, spiritual health & wellness
The Studio at Artspace 3232 — 3232 E Willow St, Signal Hill
- 3PM–7PM: RENEGADE UNCENSORED — An uncensored art exhibition featuring local queer artists
The Beverly O’Neill Theater — 300 E Ocean Blvd
- 6:30PM: Preshow Talk
- 7:30PM: Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray — Queer & Trans Choir Cantata presented by Trans Chorus of LA & South Coast Chorale
The Men’s Room Bar — 1744 E Broadway
- 5PM–10PM: The Art of the Male Form
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16
Tavi Art Gallery — 5229 2nd St
- 11AM–6PM: Color is Freedom — Gallery featuring colorful queer art
The Vault — 1000 E New York St, 4th Floor
- 1PM–5PM: Open Artist Studio featuring Sam Hopwood, Whit Whitley, and S.M. Shifflett
(A greeter will guide you through the building; no passenger elevator.)
Hamburger Mary’s Long Beach — 330 Pine Ave
- 2PM–6PM: Drag Me To the Art — Queer Artist Market with multiple visual artists
Robin Venter Art Studio — 2067 N Lewis Ave (Entrance through Alley)
- 1PM–5PM: Open Artist Studio featuring Laura Medina & Robin Venter
The Studio at Artspace 3232 — 3232 E Willow St, Signal Hill
- 3PM–7PM: RENEGADE UNCENSORED — An uncensored art exhibition featuring local queer artists
The Men’s Room Bar — 1744 E Broadway
- 12PM–4PM: The Art of the Male Form
For more information on the Long Beach Queer ArtFest, click here.
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