SPOKANE, Wash. — In celebration of the upcoming Pride Parade and Festival, Spokane Arts and Spokane Pride have joined forces to debut a groundbreaking LGBTQ+ art gallery, set to open at the Spokane Pavilion this week.
The exhibit will feature nearly three dozen artworks created by 25 artists from across the Inland Northwest, representing a diverse spectrum of backgrounds, identities, and artistic mediums. From paintings and sculptures to hand-knit pieces, the gallery showcases the creative contributions of queer artists in the region.
“This community is pretty supportive,” said Jeremy Whittington, Program Director for Spokane Arts. “Every age, every race, every ability is going to be represented in this show, so we hope people come down and celebrate the art.”
Whittington emphasized the importance of visibility for underrepresented voices, noting that the gallery offers a platform for queer artists to be both seen and celebrated.
“This is a way to really amplify the voices of an often-unheard community,” he said. “These artists bring so much beauty to the city, whether you recognize it or not.”
Among the featured artists are Maureen Smith and Gatieh Nacario, both of whom expressed gratitude for the opportunity and the support they’ve received from the Spokane community.
“At some point, I told myself I’m not good enough, but Spokane has been really supportive in appreciating my art,” said Nacario.
Smith added, “Everybody is valuable, that all of the art is valuable, that we all have a place and there is beauty all around us. It isn’t limited to one type of person or one age or one type of art. I have hopes that everyone can be accepted.”
The gallery will be open to the public from Thursday through Saturday, aligning with the city’s Pride events, which officially kick off Friday evening in downtown Spokane. Most of the artwork on display will also be available for purchase.
