Celebrating our LGBTQIA+ Artists

Join us this month as we discover more about our LGBTQIA+ Artists!

To kick off Pride month we are thrilled to share with all of you a bit about our queer artists, who they are and why we love them. 

Tartagain:

Tartagain (they/them) is a digital artist and surface pattern designer. Their inspiration comes from creative people and styles from past decades, such as the 90s and 00s. Their work frequently incorporates bright and trendy colours, "indie kid" symbols, and elements of digital painting. They are "obsessed" with creating patterns and poster art. It makes them happy to see that people enjoy their art by wearing it and having it in their homes.

Ana Jaks:

Ana Jaks (she/her) is a freelance illustrator currently based in Bristol. She creates bright illustrations with lots of shape, colour, pattern, usually centred around women and feminist themes.

Katy Welsh:

Katy Welsh (she/her) is an illustrator Who loves patterns. She is currently residing by the beach in Cornwall, UK with her lovely girlfriend. She’s got 99 problems but making art ain’t one. She is an enthusiastic dancer and experimental cook but the main thing she can and does do is create illustrations, animation and patterns with gay abandon (no really, just ask her girlfriend). She cites her greatest influences as Matisse, Picasso, The Bloomsbury Group and Beyonce.

Bethany Young

Travel is at the heart of Bethany’s work (she/her). She loves exploring different cities and cultures and capturing their matchless characteristics. Natural beauty and cultural uniqueness are Bethany’s main sources of inspiration, and combining the two in one image is her constant goal.

Last year we had the pleasure of sitting down with Bethany to ask a bit about how her queerness impacts her art. 'For me, growing up in one of the most conservative states in America meant being raised in a religious family and attending very conservative schools. Being gay wasn’t even legal in my home state until 2003 (not gay marriage, just simply being gay), so I honestly never thought I would find the courage to come out in my life - I thought it would be a secret I would take to the grave. I’m so glad that isn’t the case. Because of my history, Pride is extremely important to me. Pride is a time to gather with the queer community, to hold space for one another in safe places, to build new relationships and strengthen current ones.'

Herald Black:

Herald Black is an artist and printmaker based in East London.

Originally from Northern Ireland, Herald graduated from the Belfast School of Art, working first as a textile print assistant with John Rocha in Dublin, followed by over 10 years working with Habitat and The Conran Shop, before returning to printmaking in 2013.

Their work has recently been selected by Habitat, Anthropologie, Pringle of Scotland & Little, Brown Book Group.

Artist Named Nobody:

Artist Named Nobody is a self-taught visual artist based in London who specialises in digital portraiture. Black faces are at the centre of their work to illustrate the beauty of blackness through art. Through bright and vibrant colours, Artist Named Nobody hopes to bring the joyful and playful elements of life to the surroundings in which their art resides.

When asked what Pride means to them Artist Named Nobody said 'Pride is finding joy in my identity not only as a lesbian, but as a black lesbian. As a black lesbian artist. As a black lesbian who has autistic traits. As a black lesbian who is plus size and so many other things. Our community is so diverse that there are sub-communities for everyone to find their crowd and, when I find mine at events like UK Black Pride, it is genuinely one of the few times in my life where I truly feel like I fit in and I don’t see myself as a minority because I’m around people who look and act just like me.'

Abby Blanshard:

Abby Blanshard (she/her) is a queer artist from Watford. She is best known for her bright colours and typography screen prints. Whilst her work is simple in practice, it is bold in execution.

Last year Abby told us a little bit about what pride means to her. ‘Pride, to me, is a celebration. A celebration of love. A celebration of differences and a celebration of being your authentic self. I also think it is important to remember why we have pride and the fight that all those before us have put up and also remember why we still need pride. Whilst we are inching closer to equal rights there is still work to do for our transgender brothers and sisters and especially people of colour in the LGBTQ+ community.’

Rebecca Strickson:

Rebecca Strickson (she/her) works an illustrator and do-er of things, based in Peckham. Working mostly in illustration, she combines an intricate hand-rendered aesthetic with an equally detailed choice of subject.

Tonic Housing:

This June we have the pleasure of collaborating with the amazing non-profit organisation 'Tonic Housing'. During the month of June we will be donating 10% of all of our LGBT+ sales to Tonic Housing.

'Tonic is a community-led not for profit organisation. We are focused on creating vibrant and inclusive urban LGBT+ affirming retirement communities where people can share common experiences, find mutual support and enjoy their later life. Tonic was established in 2014 to address the issues of loneliness and isolation of older LGBT+ people and the need for specific housing and support provision as there was none in the UK before 2021.Tonic Housing is the UK’s first provider of LGBT+ affirmative retirement housing. Tonic@Bankhouse is a retirement community comprising of 84 affordable apartments over 14 floors, located on Albert Embankment in the iconic area of Vauxhall, Lambeth. '

Why we should support queer artists:

Buying art from LGBTQIA+ artists is a powerful way to support and celebrate their creativity while promoting inclusivity and equality. By investing in their work, we uplift marginalized voices, helping to dismantle systemic barriers they may face in the art world. Purchasing LGBTQIA+ art contributes to economic empowerment, providing opportunities for artists to sustain their practice and pursue their passion. And if that isn't enough of a reason then all you have to do is look at their astonishing artwork to see why we adore our LGBTQIA+ Artists - not only in Pride month but all year round. 

Our Top Queer Picks:

1. Tartagain - Tigers in red boots

2. Ana Jaks - Rainbow

3. Katy Welsh - Vase

4. Bethany Young - Palm Springs Vibes V

5. Herald Black - Scale A XII

6. Artist named Nobody - Kiss whoever you want

7. Abby Blanshard - Hey Baby

8. Rebecca Strickson - Witchy and Wonderful

Join us for our Pride Party in our Brick Lane store, 15th June 6-9pm