From Illinois to New York, from London to Copenhagen, but also in Europe and Italy: gay street art works are scattered all over the world, thanks to a growing community of queer artistə who want to denounce the prevailing homophobia, but also to educate and raise awareness about the reality of LGBTQ+ people, through political, sometimes provocative, and impactful messages.
Made in public places, street art is, in fact, easily accessible to anyone, regardless of sexual orientation. In this way, it creates a sense of community and solidarity among members of the LGBTQ+ community and can raise awareness in society about important issues, such as the fight against discrimination.
Gay-themed street art has, therefore, the function of creating a visible and recognizable presence for the queer community and this becomes especially important in contexts where the dominant culture tends to ignore or deny the existence and importance of LGBTQ+ people in society. Through wall paintings and graffiti, the artist with her queer works allows the community to feel represented, becoming an important reference point.
Milan-based artist Aluà, for example, is now a celebrity in Milan’s queer community, thanks to his pink little men made on paper and then pasted on walls that send messages of inclusion, peace and equality. But just think of the works of Keith Haring, who has become a key reference queer icon for the LGBTQ+ community, thanks to his active engagement in the fight against discrimination and social inequality.
Below we review 10 of the most beautiful gay street art works around the world
Florence, Italy: “Other Colors” by Luchadora at Palarotelle
As part of Pride Month 2021, the collaboration between Street Levels Gallery, the cultural association A Testa Alta E.T.S., Arcigay Firenze and Altre Sponde APS, led to the creation of the mural “Other Colors.”
This work, created by visual artist Luchadora (stage name Alessandra Marianelli) on the Palarotelle building near Arcigay’s headquarters in District 5, was born from the encounter between street art and rights culture, with the aim of promoting social inclusion, awareness and empowerment of the LGBTQIA+ community.
New York: pride mural outside the “3 Dollar Bill” nightclub
Created in 2019, this mural is one of many around New York City that are part of the “World Pride Mural Project,” a local project to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. This mural, designed by an artist whose name is unknown, is on the wall of “3 Dollar Bill,” a queer nightclub at 260 Meserole Street in Brooklyn.
Rockford, Illinois: “Be True” Sam Kirk
This gay street art work was created by non-binary artist Sam Kirk for the Mural Festival in Rockford, Illinois (USA).
The work celebrates different communities, but the LGBTQ community is the focus. Sam drew inspiration from those who live life following their true selves, unfiltered and unbounded.
The main figures depicted in the mural are dancing and performing in voguing style that are familiar and meaningful to the LGBTQ community. They are bold forms of self-expression while showing themselves to the world with a radiant glow. The surrounding figures represent our extended communities, friends and family with whom we celebrate Pride through moments of joy and love.
Florence, Italy: street signs by Clet Abraham
If you are in Tuscany, you cannot miss the works of Clet Abraham, a French street artist who has made the modification of street signs his signature. Living in Florence, his work can be seen in several Tuscan cities.
In addition to depictions of Donatello’s David, funny faces, little men playing musical instruments and rainbow hearts can be found on the street signs. Many of his works address LGBTQ+ issues, but they are also relate to peace, minority rights and gender equality.
To admire his creations, all you have to do is walk through the historic center of major Tuscan cities. If you are looking for a rainbow heart, we recommend heading to Piazza Mentana in Florence.
St. Petersburg, Florida: “Pride & Love” by Chad Mize & Jay Hoff
Jay Off’s “Pride and Love” mural is an artwork that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community through the creative use of Lego bricks as an art medium.
Located in a quiet parking lot at 2437 Central Avenue (St.Petersburg, Florida), the mural features a giant bright red heart in the foreground, framed by hands that extend to the top of the wall. The hands are painted in the colors of the rainbow flag and the transgender flag, representing the inclusiveness and diversity of the LGBTQ+ community.
Jay’s technique uses Lego bricks to create a jagged, pixilated image, as if the mural were built with square Lego bricks. Each brick was painted with a stencil of the official Lego logo, making the mural incredibly realistic and giving the impression that the wall is really made of Lego bricks.
“Pride and Love” is a positive and bright image of the LGBTQ+ community, representing love, solidarity and unity. The artwork is a striking and fun addition to the local St. Petersburg community, and represents a message of acceptance and support for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations.
Milan, Italy: Aluà’s little pink men. Gay street art in Porta Venezia
Cristian Aloi, known by the pseudonym Aluà, has created a series of characters called “little pink men” that are made on paper and pasted on the walls of the city of Milan.
The little pink men are designed without specific sexual identity, representing all of us and symbolizing equality and peace. The color pink was chosen to represent, in particular, equality among people, the whole of humanity.
Aluà focuses especially on issues of rights and equality, including the LGBTQ+ community and immigrants, and addressing situations that still require more attention regarding the implementation of laws and rights.
Pink cairns designed for the LGBTQ+ community can be found between NoLo and Porta Venezia, Milan’s two “gay districts.”
Copenhagen: Edes’ graffiti on trains
All EDES (short for “Evil Duck Eat Sperm”) murals, much of it drawn on the exterior facades of Copenhagen’s trains, feature the rainbow flag juxtaposed with huge pink penises!
EDES chose to address the issue of homophobia by directly and brazenly representing homosexuality. He also wanted to challenge other street artists, particularly those who are not supportive of LGBTQ+ rights, by demonstrating that freedom of expression is a right that belongs to everyone.
EDES’ choice to use trains as a canvas for his art is not accidental, as many people see these places as a playground for graffiti and as an extreme challenge. EDES wants to show that his art can be accepted anywhere, regardless of its nature or message.
Through his work, EDES seeks to stimulate discussion about discrimination and tolerance and to promote a message of inclusion and respect for all people, regardless of sexual orientation.
Washington DC: “Love” by Lisa Marie Studio
“The LOVE Mural” (at 44 Blagden Alley NW, Washington DC) is a gay street art piece that celebrates diversity and unity among people through love and creativity.
Artist Lisa Marie created this mural in 2017, and is now embarking on a tour to paint the work in all 50 states in the United States by the end of 2024. After the U.S. tour, Lisa Marie will take the LOVE Mural Tour internationally, painting her iconic design on all seven continents from 2025 to 2029.
The mural represents all races, sexualities, gender identities, cultures, nationalities and religious affiliations, and the artist sees it as a “flag of humanity” connecting all beings as love energy through harmonious colors.
Melbourne, Australia: “Yes” by David Lee Pereira
In 2017, the Australian company Apparition Media donated its walls and paint to artist and “rainbow warrior” David Lee Pereira, who painted a huge rainbow mural with the words “YES” in Melbourne in anticipation of the popular consultation on egalitarian marriage.
This mural’s main goal was to push the community to take the vote seriously and urge parliament to step forward by joining the rest of the world in supporting gay marriage and equality for people from the LGBTQIA+ community.
Pisa, Italy: Keith Haring’s “Tuttomondo”
If we had to choose a work that most represents the concept of equality, the first to come to mind is definitely “Tuttomondo,” Keith Haring’s “artistic testament” that he left in Italy in 1989 on the wall of the Convent of St. Anthony in Pisa, among the most iconic urban art works of the American artist.
Keith Haring, in addition to becoming a monument of twentieth-century art, is one of the artists who most fought for the LGBTQ community, starting with his coming out, an action of great courage and not easy for those times.
“Tuttomondo” is an explosion of colors manifested in a huge 180-square-meter area, where thirty figures intertwine to create an immense puzzle.
