When LGBTQ+ people talk about protesting, we often talk about resistance. The word works well to describe LGBTQ+ activism because it's pretty vague (plus, it has a nice ring to it). Resistance can be anything from protesting in front Vice President Mike Pence's house to calling out homophobia to being visibly queer in public. Or, it can come in the form of art.
Artists have incredible power to change perception about LGBTQ+ people. People see their work on advertisements, on websites, and in street art and are confronted with something they've never seen before. So, this Pride, we're celebrating art as a form of resistance. Below, we've rounded up 11 queer and gender non-conforming artists on Instagram who are making a difference. Even if it's just by drawing the things that make them happy.
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Gabriella Grimes (@gggrimes)
Gabriella is a 24-year-old non-binary artist. They draw queer and trans people of color. Their work is colorful and depicts people from all different backgrounds, celebrating the beauty of being queer.
Gabriella is a 24-year-old non-binary artist. They draw queer and trans people of color. Their work is colorful and depicts people from all different backgrounds, celebrating the beauty of being queer.
Ludi Leiva (@ludileiva)
Ludi is a queer, mixed-race Latina illustrator and artist. Her colorful work depicts women, women of color, and queer communities. She has previously worked on projects with Tumblr and several other brands.
Ludi is a queer, mixed-race Latina illustrator and artist. Her colorful work depicts women, women of color, and queer communities. She has previously worked on projects with Tumblr and several other brands.
Shanée Benjamin (@shaneebenjamin)
Shanee is an art director, designer, and illustrator based in Brooklyn who specializes in brand work, and shines a light on queer and trans people.
Shanee is an art director, designer, and illustrator based in Brooklyn who specializes in brand work, and shines a light on queer and trans people.
Alyssa Andrews (@alyssathrills)
Andrews writes a regular comic at Autostraddle about being queer, disabled, and sometimes how those identities intersect. They're also working on #AllQueerBods, an attempt to draw all queer people ever (so yeah, it's a huge undertaking) to show how beautiful and varied the queer community really is. Submit a photo of yourself to allqueerbods@gmail.com to be part of the project.
Andrews writes a regular comic at Autostraddle about being queer, disabled, and sometimes how those identities intersect. They're also working on #AllQueerBods, an attempt to draw all queer people ever (so yeah, it's a huge undertaking) to show how beautiful and varied the queer community really is. Submit a photo of yourself to allqueerbods@gmail.com to be part of the project.
Kat Flores (@katfloresart)
Flores has "a love for creating soft, yet vibrant imagery," as you'll see in their illustrations of nature scenes like birds and frogs, and of interesting people. Recently, they've been working on a series of drawings recreating the Peruvian desserts they remember from their childhood. And every October, Flores draws a note for Asexual Awareness Week "so that people don't feel isolated in their experience."
Flores has "a love for creating soft, yet vibrant imagery," as you'll see in their illustrations of nature scenes like birds and frogs, and of interesting people. Recently, they've been working on a series of drawings recreating the Peruvian desserts they remember from their childhood. And every October, Flores draws a note for Asexual Awareness Week "so that people don't feel isolated in their experience."
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David Hockney (@david_hockney)
Hockney has been a prolific queer artist since the 1960s (when it was arguably harder to make queer art). He was part of the pop art movement of the 1960s in Britain and known for his depictions of queer life.
Hockney has been a prolific queer artist since the 1960s (when it was arguably harder to make queer art). He was part of the pop art movement of the 1960s in Britain and known for his depictions of queer life.
Mohammed Fayaz (@brohammad)
You might recognize Fayaz's art, since the Brooklyn-based illustrator often does work for websites and advertising campaigns (like this year's Pride-themed Dr. Martens). His work is super inclusive and fun. It often celebrates joy and connection in queer communities.
You might recognize Fayaz's art, since the Brooklyn-based illustrator often does work for websites and advertising campaigns (like this year's Pride-themed Dr. Martens). His work is super inclusive and fun. It often celebrates joy and connection in queer communities.
Kate Just (@katejustknits)
Art isn't all about putting pencil to paper, and no one proves that better than Just, an Australian textile artist. Just's work isn't your grandma's knitting. She weaves gorgeous scenes into her knits, many of them with powerful feminist and queer messages.
Art isn't all about putting pencil to paper, and no one proves that better than Just, an Australian textile artist. Just's work isn't your grandma's knitting. She weaves gorgeous scenes into her knits, many of them with powerful feminist and queer messages.
Will Varner (@willvarnerart)
You may have seen Will Varner's work on BuzzFeed, where he's written comics about how Star Wars brings his family together and being in a gay volleyball league. His work isn't always funny (though it often is), but it's always poignant. He explains what it's like to be a gay person of color and perfectly illustrates intimate moments between partners.
You may have seen Will Varner's work on BuzzFeed, where he's written comics about how Star Wars brings his family together and being in a gay volleyball league. His work isn't always funny (though it often is), but it's always poignant. He explains what it's like to be a gay person of color and perfectly illustrates intimate moments between partners.
Favianna Rodriguez (@favianna1)
Rodriguez calls herself "an artist engaged in social change." And her art reflects that description. Her work often makes statements about immigration, climate change, queer rights, and feminism.
Rodriguez calls herself "an artist engaged in social change." And her art reflects that description. Her work often makes statements about immigration, climate change, queer rights, and feminism.
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Jenn St-Onge (@princess_jem4)
St-Onge is a "tatted Canadian cat mommy/comic artist." She has worked on comics like Jem & The Misfits, Nancy Drew, and Bingo Love (a very cute love story between two grandmas who meet at bingo). Her work is colorful, bubbly, and inclusive. Prepare to see plus-size mermaids, cute couples (both mythological and not), and lots of cats.
St-Onge is a "tatted Canadian cat mommy/comic artist." She has worked on comics like Jem & The Misfits, Nancy Drew, and Bingo Love (a very cute love story between two grandmas who meet at bingo). Her work is colorful, bubbly, and inclusive. Prepare to see plus-size mermaids, cute couples (both mythological and not), and lots of cats.
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