City of West Hollywood Selects ‘Odious Ari’ as City’s Next Drag Laureate and First Drag King in the Role

The City Council of the City of West Hollywood, at its regular meeting on Monday, June 15, 2026, unanimously approved Odious Ari as the City's next Drag Laureate. Ari was selected through an application process with a selection committee comprised of members of the City's Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission, LGBTQ+ Commission, and Transgender Advisory Board.

Odious Ari is the City's second Drag Laureate and the first drag king to hold the title. Their appointment as Drag Laureate represents a groundbreaking milestone as the first drag king to serve in an official Drag Laureate role anywhere in the world. Ari's selection follows Pickle, who served as the City of West Hollywood's inaugural Drag Laureate, appointed in 2023.

"West Hollywood has long been a place where LGBTQ+ artists, performers, and visionaries have challenged conventions, expanded representation, and helped shape culture," said City of West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman. "We are thrilled to welcome Odious Ari as our new Drag Laureate and proud to celebrate this historic appointment as the first drag king to serve in an official drag laureate role anywhere in the world. Ari's creativity, humor, musicianship, and commitment to community embody the spirit of West Hollywood. Through their work, they honor the rich traditions of drag while opening new doors for visibility, storytelling, and artistic expression. We look forward to the inspiration, joy, and imagination they will bring to our community over the coming years."

Odious Ari is an accomplished drag king, performer, producer, and community artist whose work blends theatrical performance, comedy, music, and queer cultural storytelling. Most often performing as their signature drag character, Odious Ari - a 103-year-old Vaudevillian - they captivate audiences through a unique combination of live music, original songs, and comedic performance. Ari's performances feature an eclectic range of instruments, including accordion, ukulele banjo, and squeaky toys, creating engaging and memorable experiences that celebrate creativity, inclusivity, and LGBTQ+ culture. Through performance, event production, and community engagement, Ari has helped foster welcoming artistic spaces, support emerging performers, and strengthen connections within diverse communities.

As West Hollywood Drag Laureate, Odious Ari will serve a term of three years from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029. The Drag Laurate is an honorary position that serves as an ambassador of the City of West Hollywood, using the position as a platform to promote the city through the artform of drag performance. The Drag Laureate is expected to attend various civic events throughout the year, supporting arts and culture and the business community. During the term, the Drag Laureate will enhance the presence and appreciation of drag culture and arts in West Hollywood; promote partnerships with West Hollywood business and community organizations; celebrate the spirit and special qualities of the City of West Hollywood and its residents; and inspire an emerging generation of drag artists by celebrating and promoting drag history.

The Drag Laureate will work with City staff to serve as an ambassador for West Hollywood. Odious Ari will attend approximately 15 events throughout the year, including WeHo Pride and West Hollywood Day.

The City of West Hollywood's Arts Division delivers a broad array of arts programs including Art on the Outside (temporary public art), Arts Grants, City Poet Laureate, Drag Laureate, Free Theatre in the Parks, Library Exhibits, Summer Sounds + Winter Sounds, Urban Art Program (permanent public art), WeHo Pride Arts Festival, and WeHo Reads.

For additional information about Odious Ari, please visit www.odiousari.com. For additional information about the City of West Hollywood's arts programming or Drag Laureate program, please visit www.weho.org/arts.

For more information, please contact Rebecca Ehemann, the City of West Hollywood's Arts Manager, at (323) 848-6846 or at [email protected]. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.

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