gwaine (he/him)

Hey, my name is Azelia and I love making art!!!! Mainly pen and paper, sewing, and a little bit of woodworking. I love snakes, pirates and clowns!!!!

Self Portrait

This is a self portrait. It's a combination of who I am now and who I'm supposed to be.

Harrison Ferguson (he/him)

This work is a series of self portraits done by Harrison Ferguson. He is a local photographer born and raised in Asheville, NC. He is a current senior at University of North Carolina School of the Arts in the high school drama program. Outside of photography, Harrison enjoys spending time with friends and family, working at his local community theatre (shout out ACT!), writing and playing music, and getting outside. He hopes seeing his work brings you as much joy as it brought him to create it!

We Cannot Simply Sit and Stare at Our Wounds Forever

"We Cannot Simply Sit" looks at growth. The series starts out with part of the face covered, as if hiding. The blue tones contrast to the rest of the pieces, which get increasingly bright and vibrant as the character begins to feel comfortable in who he is. "We Cannot Simply Sit" is the beginning, the starting point, in a journey of self-growth.

In the End, We’ll All Become Stories

"We'll All Become Stories" shows the slight growth of the character. He is experimenting with new things that make him more seen and he feels more like himself in. He has looked away from the camera toward a path of life that he feels fit, the direction that he's going. His face is still slightly covered by his hand but he is making progress and becoming who he is meant to be.

Forever is Composed of Nows

"Forever is Composed of Nows" is the middle point in the character's journey. He is finally confident in who he is. He is still looking off to the side, at his path, and he is eager to follow and learn more about himself.

How Strange It Is To Be Anything At All

"Anything At All" shows the character, still confident, but once again experimenting with new things. He knows how to show up for himself and he does this by welcoming change and accepting change with an open heart and mind. He is still looking to the side to show that it is clear to him that this questioning means he's on the right path.

What if - For Once - I Was the Poem

"I Was The Poem" shows the character finding himself, his true self, and accepting that. Maybe the flowers are from a partner, maybe he found love in someone else, but maybe he found love in himself. He is fully himself and proud of it. This last piece is up to interpretation, but it is clear that he is finally content in who he is and in his life.

Maya tilson (they/them)

Maya is a queer artist, working in a variety of mediums, but more commonly watercolor, acrylic, sculptures, and doodles. They enjoy historical fashion, sewing, art, theatre, graphic novels, and being silly. Their art takes inspiration from queer history and future, their favorite media, nature, their wonderful friends and girlfriend, and the stars.

Star Guy

The Star Guy print is part of a series of reduction lino prints, of which only 13 exist. Since making this print the star guy has become a reoccurring character in my art, featuring as an expression of gender and self. I love the stars, and this celestial figure felt as an extension of myself, or as a friend once said, how I am "under the surface".

The Princess and Their Knight

"The Princess and Their Knight" are two dolls made based off of two characters I've made and drawn who represent my girlfriend and I. Their bodies are made up of clay, painted with acrylic paint, and then have various pieces of clothing which are made by me. I've carefully built and designed them to show not only the characters who they are, but the people they were inspired by. They're queer, in love, and will have their happily ever after in their own world.

What Do I Want?

"What Do I Want?" was formed as an expression of the dysphoria felt as a femme nonbinary person, and the experience of looking in the mirror and considering what I want, how I want to look, feel, and what I want to do with my body. The red yarn stitched over the painting presents the question of what could be, while the hands cover the reality of is. In some ways this is euphoric, but it's ultimately complicated, as someone who feels joy in femininity but not in being seen as female.