Pride doesn’t end after Pride Month. Queer art and artists’ expression, statements and work continue conversations and dialogue around freedom, equality, rights, perspectives and more.
Queer Art Hub has chosen 3 queer artists from around the world to feature their pieces that the LGBTQI+ community should know about:
Jonathon Beaver (Liverpool, UK)
Originally from Southport, close to the seemingly camp, fun, freedom and expressive Blackpool, Jonathon never felt a sense of belonging in their hometown, with its politically conservative and narrow-minded attitudes. Thinking of a common motif to represent both towns and physically connect them, on a map, in an albeit queer-straight line!
“I thought of a stick of rock: masculine, rigid and linear in appearance but colourful, flamboyant and sweet in taste. I then begin to think of manipulating the object and making it more ‘bent’-like, as reclaiming the negativity in terms of the gesture/action (of a limp) wrist equalling weakness or less manly but decided to keep it ironically, vertical; to fit our normative society.”
Meg Wolensky (Philadelphia, PA)
Originally from West Chester, Pennsylvania, Meg Wolensky is a queer nonbinary visual artist based in Philadelphia. Meg performs painting as a healing practice for queer community as they recover from C-PTSD, translating colorful fragments of experiences, memories, and dreams into a cohesive whole that is reflective of queer identity, history, and resistance. These investigative collage-like paintings layer cross-sections of colorful personal narrative, trompe-l’oeil objects, and indicators of time as it whips by.
Wolensky’s work has been exhibited in venues across the country, including Drexel University, Kutztown University, University of Southern Mississippi, Moore College of Art & Design, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), Woodmere Art Museum, InLiquid Gallery, Seraphin Gallery, Rodger LaPelle Galleries, William Way LGBT Community Center, Democratic National Convention, Painted Bride Art Center, Abington Art Center, the Banana Factory Arts & Education Center and many more. in 2023, Wolensky was the recipient of InLiquid’s Dina Wind Fellowship by a jury of outstanding curators, artists, and arts leaders from around the Greater Philadelphia area.
“Inspired by Fragments of Sappho, this work reveals some, but not all, displaying fragments of archival queer literature and resistance publications woven amongst personal narratives, memories, myths, dreams, and relationships. Assembled through chromatic cross-sections and color chasms, I portray affirming ephemera and analyze the contrasting systemic violence beneath the surface. Through this language of cultural lineage and self-preservation, I rebuild a home where my whole identity is welcome and celebrated. Through these multi-year observations, I show that queer people are here now. We have been here throughout all of time.”
Humberto Reynoso (California)
Humberto, originally from San Miguel el Alto, is a visual artist creating around the need to redefine and reimagine what democracy looks like, and how we need a new constitution. Exhibited at All Eyes Gallery in Downtown San Bernardino, “With Liberty and Justice For Some” is made of oversized porcelain penises to reference its history of power and its relationship to fragility.
“I’m tired of pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States in the American Continent because of the republic for which it stands; a Divided Nation, under a Christian God, with Liberty and Justice for Some.“
Queer Art Hub supports LGBTQ+ artists from all backgrounds across the world. Our mission is to forward the diversity of queer art in all forms. Contact us or DM on @queerarthub to submit your art! 🌈