Scrolling through Instagram the other day, I came across a post with the hashtag #QueerArtPH. It was posted by the Metro Manila Pride account. They said, “To be seen as a queer creator in the Philippines is itself a radical act. Here’s to those of us who use art to move or to resist, through images and films, through words or music.” They started this campaign so that art made by those who identify as LGBTQIA+ could be seen.
I checked out the posts under that hashtag on both IG and Twitter, and I was surprised to see a lot of young artists I wasn’t familiar with. Some just used the tag while others shared a little bit about themselves, their art, and what they identify as.
Like I said, I came across a lot of artists online so I thought I’d share some of them with you from illustrators to poets and photographers.
Landlee
I’ve really been enjoying short comics on Instagram lately so discovering Landlee is a pleasant surprise. She is an aspiring comic creator and her work shows that. Looking through her posts, you can tell she has a very distinct art style and has a penchant for purple hair. If you’re quickly becoming a fan of her art, she also sells sticker so be on the lookout for those.
Pum B.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BusQfLaFtNS/
Pum doesn’t just focus on one medium. By the looks of their Instagram, Pum posts illustrations and acrylic pours. I’m a sucker for acrylic pours so I honestly got lost in their art. In a recent post Pum said, “I’m a [nonbinary] lesbian who dabbles in a bit of fluid/acrylic pour art ro release some of the tension that comes with existing.” I’m sure you can feel that same emotion if you take a closer look at the finished products.
Toto Torema
Toto is an illustrator who also does logos and graphic design jobs. Her work is a mix of puns, portraits, and commentaries on social issues. If you want a portrait done of yourself or want to gift one to a friend, she also does commissions and collaborations so slide into her DMs if you’re interested.
Ivan Grasparin
Ivan is an illustrator who describes himself as “gay AF.” He also likes “drawing cinematic environments and playing with character design.” That being said, he also illustrated a special piece for Nike during Kevin Durant’s Manila tour last year and Kevin signed it too. Pretty cool if you ask me.
Relly Coquia
Relly does digital paintings of people from your favorite TV shows, movies, along with the occasional politician. She has works of Klaus from The Umbrella Academy, Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in A Star Is Born, Troye Sivan, and Amy Winehouse.
Sai
🍑🍋 #artvsartist #artph pic.twitter.com/zuYAdakcjA
— SAI 🏳️🌈 📌 coms : waitlist (@pandesaii) February 9, 2019
On Twitter, Sai described herself as, “a bisexual animator and illustrator who loves drawing girls in love.” Her art shows that two women who are in a relationship, are just like any couple. Some want to get married, they surprise each other with gifts, and they can just love each other. Hopefully they can do so without any judgment or expectations.
Celina Mae Medina
Don’t worry, we didn’t forget about artists who work with cameras. Celina is “a pansexual independent filmaker, writer, and photographer.” Going through her photos, she likes to play around with different lighting and colors. For her Thesis, she worked on a short film entitled Ophilia, which focused on “representing mental health and depression through autoethnography.” It was also a semi-finalist at last year’s Los Angeles CineFest.
Gita
Hi #QueerArtPH, I'm Gita! I'm bisexual and I'm a poet. I write about love, pets, and occasionally, when the situation calls for it, Hatsune Miku pic.twitter.com/KJoIIkgfkc
— Gita | ACAB (@meteorcrew) March 20, 2019
We’re also including some writing. Gita is bisexual and a poet who likes to write about pets and love. Check out her media posts on Twitter where you will see some of her poems. They are sure to move you emotionally.
Photo courtesy of Landlee’s Instagram account
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