My personal style and interest in the creative world includes interconnecting design, art, and the power of written word.

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How does being queer inform your work?

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Was I an artist before I was queer, or vice versa? Can those elements of my identity be separated from myself? I was creating in the form of art, writing, and design long before I came out as transgender or queer. But I have always been transgender/queer, even before letting society (or even all aspects of myself) be fully aware of it. Which means all of the content and concepts I was creating were coming from the perspective of a queer/trans individual, even if that identity wasn't fully evolved yet. But as I grow in myself, in my identity, and in the queer community, I hone in on my voice, my passions, and the impact I aim to leave. My identity as a trans/queer person and my identity as an artist are so integral I'm not sure if they can be analyzed as separate parts of myself.

What are your favorite pieces of queer visual culture?

David Wojnarowicz's work may live more in the space of art than that of design, but it is still close to my heart. His work around the concept Silence = Death explores how comfort in complacency, both as individuals and as a society, lead us backwards rather than forwards our fights for liberation.

Which other queer people inspire you?

Queer people inspire me everyday. From the writings of Thomas Page McBee and Jacob Tobia to the art of Craig Calderwood to the graphic design of Lauren Gallagher. Not to mention the queers in the Bay Area who create amazing literary and visual work that goes incredibly underrepresented including local art and activist groups such The Take Off Arts, The Degenderettes, Cliterary Salon, Greetings from Queer Mountain, and more.