As major art institutions scale back diversity initiatives and social platforms quietly tighten their grip on LGBTQ+ expression, queer artists are finding their work increasingly vulnerable, flagged, hidden, or erased altogether. Garry Ho is pushing back.
Ho, the founder of Dear Queer Artist, has spent the past year building Queer Art Hub, a global digital platform designed to preserve, promote, and protect queer art without algorithmic interference. Since launching in 2025, the platform has grown into a living archive for LGBTQI+ creativity, hosting more than 700 artist profiles across 30 countries.
Rather than chasing trends or courting gatekeepers, Queer Art Hub is focused on permanence, a place where queer artists can exist without censorship or conditional visibility.
A Platform Born From Shrinking Space
The need for a project like Queer Art Hub has become increasingly urgent. In 2025, the global art market experienced a notable decline, while public and private funding tied to diversity-led programs faced steep reductions. At the same time, social media platforms, once lifelines for emerging artists, became less reliable spaces for queer expression.
According to GLAAD’s 2025 Social Media Safety Index, platforms including Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube failed to adequately protect LGBTQ+ users. Queer artwork was frequently misclassified as explicit, leading to shadowbans, demonetization, and account removals.
Ho sees these shifts as structural failures, not temporary setbacks.
“We’re at a tipping point,” Ho said. “Queer Art Hub is infrastructure. It’s the kind of foundation Big Tech and traditional institutions aren’t willing to provide.”
What Queer Art Hub Offers and Why It Matters
At its core, Queer Art Hub functions as a searchable, permanent archive for queer art across disciplines, including painting, photography, sculpture, film, illustration, and multidisciplinary work. Artists who create profiles can share portfolios, biographies, and contact details, offering visibility that isn’t dependent on algorithms or institutional approval.
Collectors, curators, and art enthusiasts can browse work from anywhere in the world, while galleries and organizations can post exhibitions, open calls, and events through the platform’s Community Classifieds.
Over the past year, more than 50 galleries, institutions, and queer organizations have used Queer Art Hub to promote shows and opportunities, reinforcing a demand for queer art spaces that operate outside traditional pipelines.
New Tools for a Growing Community
In January 2026, Queer Art Hub rolled out new features aimed at strengthening its community ecosystem. Artists can now follow one another, track activity, and link event listings directly to their profiles. Community Classifieds posts appear in a dedicated tab, turning artist pages into evolving records of both creative output and participation.
The platform has logged more than 22,000 website views to date, with its largest audiences based in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, a signal that global interest remains strong, even as institutional support wanes.
The 2026 Call to Action
With its beta phase behind it, Queer Art Hub is now seeking funders, sponsors, and cultural partners committed to safeguarding queer art for the long term. Ho describes the project as a legacy effort, one that prioritizes preservation over virality.
“This isn’t another app chasing attention,” Ho said. “It’s about refusing to let queer history disappear.”
Queer artists interested in joining can create a free profile on Queer Art Hub, while organizations and allies are encouraged to explore partnership opportunities to help sustain the platform’s future.
In a moment when queer visibility feels increasingly conditional, Queer Art Hub is betting on something radical: longevity.
