Long Beach Creative Group highlights over two dozen LGBTQ+ artists in new art exhibition

“The Power of Visibility: Boldness in LGBTQ+ Art” will have a month-long run at the Rod Briggs Gallery in Downtown Long Beach.

As Long Beach continues its Pride Month celebrations, LGBTQ+ artists will take center stage during “The Power of Visibility: Boldness in LGBTQ+ Art,” on display at the Rod Briggs Gallery through July 20.

For this group exhibition, 58 pieces by 29 artists were selected by jurors Lucas Gordon, Brian Trimble and Jenson Titus. The Long Beach Creative Group (LBCG) will celebrate the exhibition with two opening receptions on June 22 and June 23 at the gallery.

“Visibility is the first step towards equality. Art has the power to make the unseen seen, and the unheard heard. Through the lens of art, we can shatter stereotypes, challenge prejudices, and pave the way for a more inclusive and understanding world,” said Travis Stock-Tucker, exhibit coordinator, in a recent statement from LBCG. 

Long Beach Creative Group is a collective of locally-based artists and art lovers who banded together to empower Long Beach artists by showcasing their work in a community setting. LBCG has hosted several art exhibitions at the Rod Briggs Gallery since 2019 as well as several art-focused community events. 

LBCG is supported by the Briggs Family Trust and receives sponsorships from the Port of Long Beach and the Arts Council for Long Beach. 

“This exhibit is a continuation of our commitment to connect with, and showcase, the diversity of our city’s complex creative community, and to amplify voices that might not find opportunities elsewhere,” said LBCG president and founder Marka Burns in a recent statement from the art collective.

LBCG will also host three special events tied to “The Power of Visibility: Boldness in LGBTQ+ Art” during its month-long display: 

• The History of Stonewall: Friday, June 28 at 6 p.m. This event will be a discussion of the ongoing history and legacy of gay activism, with a special focus on the Stonewall uprising in 1969, cited as a pivotal moment in the gay rights movement. 
• Movie Night: Friday, July 12 at 8 p.m. LBCG will host a screening of the 1990 documentary film “Paris is Burning,” which provided a heartfelt insight into New York City’s drag ball culture in the late 1980s. While looking into the lives and passions of African American and Latino members of the various “houses,” director Jennie Livingston documents the subjects’ experiences with poverty, AIDS, racism, homophobia and transphobia.   
• Strut Your Stuff: Saturday, July 20. The exhibition will close with a costumed ball inspired by the drag performances depicted in“Paris is Burning.” 

“The Power of Visibility: Boldness in LGBTQ+ Art” will be on display from June 22 to July 20 at Rod Briggs Gallery, located at 2221 E. Broadway. The gallery is open Fridays through Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. More information about the gallery and upcoming exhibits can be found at longbeachcreativegroup.com and @longbeachcreativegroup on Facebook and Instagram.