Queer Metalsmiths

Queer Metalsmiths (QM) is a community space where we honor, center and uplift 2SLGBTQIA+ jewelers, metalsmiths + makers. Our mission is to be a safe space for queer artists to connect and support each other through visibility within the metalsmithing and craft fields.

We challenge the foundations of capitalism, patriarchy, and white supremacy by building with love, rejecting hierarchical structures, and offering accessibility to queer and trans artists regardless of their ability, level of education, age or experience, socioeconomic background or geographic location. 

Founded in 2020 as a response to the need for safe, visible spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC artists, QM has since evolved into a growing organization showcasing over 300 artists across five continents. Moving beyond the rigidity of traditional gallery spaces and practices, QM has cultivated an international community of over 7,000 followers by prioritizing inclusivity and visibility.  

Through our programming and events, we balance low-barrier digital platforms with high-impact, in-person showcases at major industry events like the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) conference and New York City Jewelry Week (NYCJW). 

We are watching horrific attacks on queer and trans folx, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, immigrants, disabled folx, and women/femmes. We know that it is the essential time for us to gather in community and work collectively to bring about radical change. 

Beyond simply surviving, our commitment is that queer creatives get to thrive! We cannot do that alone. We are building a community who wants to contribute to the work we are doing locally, regionally, nationally, and globally. 

As we grow, we envision using our platform to advocate for systemic change and social justice through creative liberation; becoming a beacon for queer and trans artists globally, offering them the tools, connections, and visibility they need to transform a world that has historically overlooked them.