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Creative Philadelphia - Philadelphia Stories 250: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Joy
Summer 2026
Exhibition Location: Creative Philadelphia Art Gallery, Room 116 & Office of Councilmember Rue Landau, Room 592
Deadline for submissions: April 26, 2026
In celebration of America's 250th anniversary, Creative Philadelphia and Councilmember Rue Landau issue a Call for Art to Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ community for a special Pride exhibition in historic City Hall.
Theme
Philadelphia Stories 250: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Joy invites local artists to reflect on our founding ideals and respond to the promises of freedom, belonging, happiness, and to the lived experiences where those promises remain unfinished. Borrowing from the language of the Declaration of Independence, the exhibition centers on joy as a civic condition, as evidence of safety, acceptance, recognition, and the ability to be seen and exist fully in public life. To experience joy openly without apology is itself a meaningful expression of liberty.
So, what does it mean to experience joy openly? How does joy and visibility function as tenacity, resistance, and survival? Artists are asked to explore personal experiences and expressions, or more public stories, including historical narratives where the past informs contemporary struggles for dignity and recognition.
One historical example from the Revolutionary War is the story of Major General Friedrich Wilhelm Baron Von Steuben, who was widely known for having had relationships with men. Von Steuben was the Inspector General in George Washington's Continental army at Valley Forge. He was a pivotal figure throughout the war, but may be best remembered for his field manual, which provided discipline and training to the army, even in subsequent years after the war. His story highlights a broader pattern in American history of individuals whose contributions help shaped the nation, even when aspects of their identities were unspoken, illegal, or excluded from public recognition.
This call is open to all mediums. We ask that submitted works be no larger than 40" x 40" to accomodate various exhibition spaces within City Hall.
Jurors:
Joining Tu Huynh, Creative Philadelphia's Curator of Exhibitions and Programs, will be:
Lauren Rinaldi, the Arts & Culture Liaison for the Office of Councilmember Rue Landau, and Guest Juror, Arleen Olshan.
Lauren Rinaldi (b. 1983, Brooklyn, NY) is an American artist living and working in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Temple's Tyler School of Art and has exhibited her work in solo shows at Paradigm Gallery + Studio in Philadelphia, and extensively in group shows throughout the United States. In addition to her role in Councilmember Rue Landau's office as the Arts and Culture Liaison, she is a community activist and has served as a Democratic Ward Leader and Committee Person since 2018.
Arleen Olshan is a visual artist and activist who uses her artistic practice to preserve LGBTQIA+ history. She has been active in the LGBTQIA+ and Feminist Communities for nearly 60 years in Philadelphia and beyond.
Beginning in the late 1960s, Arleen worked with Radicalesbians and the Gay Activist Alliance. She was the co-coordinator of the original Gay & Lesbian Community Center (now William Way). From 1976–1986, she was the co-owner of Giovanni’s Room, the oldest LGBTQIA+ and Feminist bookstore in the country.
Arleen was one of the co-founders of the Mt. Airy Art Garage, a Northwest Philadelphia arts hub, gallery, and studio space.
About Councilmember Rue Landau I At-Large
Rue Landau is a civil rights and housing attorney, a public school parent and the first openly LGBTQ+ member of Philadelphia City Council. She has spent her entire career fighting for social justice and equity for Philadelphia’s most vulnerable communities. She has been an At-Large Councilmember since 2023.
For more information about Councilmember Landau, please visit: PhlCouncil.com/RueLandau.
