Naked drawing night

12”x9” acrylic mixed media on paper. My “Queer” figurative series face violence and systematic discrimination, particularly in transgender and communities of color. HIV remains an ongoing battle, despite advancements in antiretroviral treatment (which the CDC recently stated effectively prevents prevents transmission) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). It hits especially hard in rural areas, and in the American South, where both class and race are deadly factors. That said, we are living in an unprecedented time of acceptance and openness of queer lifestyles, and a HIV-positive diagnosis is not the death sentence it once was in progressive cities. My work is focusing on my queer experiences and intimate domestic environments. My art has a direct relationship to my own queer identity, which I present without fear of cultural, social, or legal repercussions.