GAYBARCHIVES
The World's Largest Collection of Gay Bar Logos & Stories

OUR STORY
A long-time member of the gay community has dedicated his time to researching, locating, and digitally recreating the logos of beloved bars that thrived before the internet era.

The project began quietly in November 2019, when Art Smith collaborated with the Atlanta Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and the owners of Backstreet—Atlanta’s most iconic three-story nightclub. Together, they created a tribute T-shirt marking the club’s 45th anniversary. Designed as a fundraiser for the Atlanta Sisters, the shirt was an instant hit and sparked the idea for a larger project.

In the months that followed, Art tapped into his social media networks and reconnected with old acquaintances, bartenders, managers, and patrons from Atlanta, where he lived throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Former bar owners and community members began sharing memories, stories, and scraps of history about their favorite watering holes.

Tracking down original logos proved challenging, but Art pressed on, piecing together lost visuals of Atlanta’s vibrant nightlife. With every rediscovered design, he continues to preserve an important part of LGBTQ+ history—bringing back to life the spaces that shaped a generation.

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