Artists to Know: 10 LGBTQ+ Artists to Check Out
Starting with the Stonewall riots in 1969, Pride Month is prevalent for LGBTQ+ civil rights and justice. While we acknowledge and support LGBTQ+ rights no matter what time of year, we wanted to celebrate Pride Month by spotlighting 10 talented LGBTQ+ artists. We hope you discover a new favorite creator!
From pop culture lovers to travel enthusiasts, these 10 LGBTQ+ artists aim to give off feelings of spirituality, intimacy, emotional appeal, and more through their work. With subjects ranging from stylish icons to poetic people to joyful life scenes, these creators bring an interesting mix of creations.
Whether you’re into abstract portraits, architectural photography, or lowbrow surrealism, the work from these artists is a mix of captivatingly complex and playfully uplifting. Keep scrolling to meet just a few of the many LGBTQ+ artists we’re proud to partner with.
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Hayden Williams | Fashion Illustrator
Watching Disney movies as a child eventually led London-based artist Hayden Williams to the path of fashion illustration as a teen and adult. A mix of inspiration growing up, including “pop culture, cartoons, video game characters, music videos, fashion editorials in magazines and also fashion dolls such as Barbie and Bratz” resulted in his now stylized fashion illustrations of celebrities. Often leaning into hyper femininity and glamor, he nods to both old Hollywood glam and modern fashion styles.
This mix of vintage and present day style can be seen throughout his creations of famous musicians, actresses, models, and other fashionistas posing in trendy outfits. From Beyoncé’s performance looks to luxurious beach attire to Cher and Dionne from Clueless, we think his art exudes fun attitude and flair. If his work looks familiar, you may have seen him collaborate with Rimmel London, Bratz and Kylie Jenner.
![hayden williams illlustration - fashionista](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/hayden-williams-fashion-illustration-HWI35-1380x1380.jpg)
![hayden williams illlustration - gay pride fashion](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/hayden-williams-gay-pride-illustration-HWI71-1380x1380.jpg)
![hayden williams illlustration - vogue cover fashion](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/hayden-williams-vogue-fashion-illustration-HWI77-1380x1380.jpg)
Click here to see more of Hayden Williams’ art on iCanvas.
Rose Unfolding | Spiritual Watercolor Artist
Growing up with a close relationship to the natural world, Rose Unfolding uses art as a way to sort through her emotions and experiences tied to the environment. Through her lens as a regenerative farmer, the Bellingham, WA artist creates imagery as a “new modality of iconography derived from Earth based practices”. With layers of watercolor, ink cross hatching, and white outlines, she infuses each creation with intricate meaning and symbolism.
Featuring goddesses and iconography, her artwork incorporates incredible details, revealing deep themes within each piece. From crystal twins to pond spirits to a woman of the sea, her prints provide a spiritual and mystical presence.
![Rose Unfolding watercolor - galaxy goddess](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/rose-unfolding-spiritual-art-RUF7-920x1380.jpg)
![Rose Unfolding watercolor - lady death](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/rose-unfolding-spiritual-art-RUF2-920x1380.jpg)
![Rose Unfolding watercolor - triple goddesses](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/rose-unfolding-spiritual-art-RUF17-920x1380.jpg)
Click here to see more of Rose Unfolding’s art on iCanvas.
Dan Nelson | People & Pets Artist
Inspired by joy and happiness, Chicago-based artist Dan Nelson claims that creating art has always been a part of who he is. While he has developed his own style of painting, he feels like his art evokes a little bit of “David Hockney and Norman Rockwell with a dash of the old Dick and Jane Illustrations”. His own vibrant spin on these legendary artists has led him to painting delightful scenes of people and their pets.
Whether it’s representing LGBTQ+ couples with their cute pups or or showing dance parties inside of mid-century style homes, his prints are sure to put a smile on your face. From disco dog parties to pool boys to canine celebrations, dive into these cheerfully sweet scenes.
![dan nelson painting - dogs on balcony](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/dan-nelson-man-with-dogs-art-DNN10-920x1380.jpg)
![dan nelson painting - dogs and palm trees](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/dan-nelson-tropical-dog-art-DNN9-920x1380.jpg)
![dan nelson painting - cocktail hour](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/dan-nelson-people-and-dogs-art-DNN13-920x1380.jpg)
Click here to see more of Dan Nelson’s art on iCanvas.
Gilliard Bressan | Travel Photographer
Based in Lisbon, Portugal, Gilliard Bressan became a photographer out of the desire to “escape to another world”. With his travels awakening his artistic vision over the years, he now loves to stroll around the city to find constant inspiration through his lens. Capturing the incredible sights seen through his unique eyes, his mix of street photography, travel, and architecture pulls you into incredible settings.
Ranging from old buildings to more modern structures, his mix of imagery is sure to mesmerize. From The Great Pyramids to Venetian sights to geometric windows, we think his photos give off historical flair and architectural drama.
![Gilliard Bressan photography - medusa statue](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/gilliard-bressan-statue-photography-GBN60-920x1380.jpg)
![Gilliard Bressan photography - colorful houses](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/gilliard-bressan-colorful-buildings-GBN21-920x1380.jpg)
![Gilliard Bressan photography - stairs architecture](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/gilliard-bressan-architecture-photography-GBN38-920x1380.jpg)
Click here to see more of Gilliard Bressan’s art on iCanvas.
Brain Wave Cult | Poetic Portrait Artist
Drawn to the artists of the bohemian lifestyle in Paris around 1900, as well as the German Expressionists and Dadaism, Brain Wave Cult grew up creating comics and depicting TV personalities. Joining the Post-Punk movement as a teen, they worked with fashion and jewelry design in London and Berlin, while later on moving to creating figurative paintings and digital art. Now living in Italy, Brain Wave Cult hones in on poetic portraits that embrace artificial intelligence.
Often depicting same sex couples or intriguing male portraiture, each creation reveals eyes full of emotion. From radical passion to broken promises to young poets, we think their artwork reveals peculiar and intimate energy.
![Brain Wave Cult art - male portrait](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/brain-wave-cult-male-portrait-BWC86-1380x1380.jpg)
![Brain Wave Cult art - male couple portrait](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/brain-wave-cult-male-portrait-BWC40-1380x1380.jpg)
![Brain Wave Cult art - male couple portrait](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/brain-wave-cult-male-portrait-BWC90-1380x1380.jpg)
Click here to see more of Brain Wave Cult’s art on iCanvas.
CrumbsAndGubs | Lowbrow Horror Artist
Based in Sacramento, California, CrumbsAndGubs is inspired by all things spooky…and “also by rats”. Incorporating horror themes into scenes with ghosts, hauntingly terrifying portraits, and dark themes that make you look twice, her creations are unsettling yet intriguing. Whether it’s a woman’s face being pulled apart or vacant white eyes with tears streaming down, she pulls viewers into dark dreams.
Ranging from more classic scenes like a haunted library to gruesome imagery such as exaggerated human anatomy, her art is sure to shock. From bony piano fingers to eyes in the walls to moths taking over a face, her prints evoke eerie energy with surreal appeal.
![CrumbsAndGubs art - spooky bedroom](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/crumbsandgubs-horror-art-CGB23-920x1380.jpg)
![CrumbsAndGubs art - spooky portrait](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/crumbsandgubs-horror-art-CGB28-920x1380.jpg)
![CrumbsAndGubs art - ghost in library](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/crumbsandgubs-horror-art-CGB37-920x1380.jpg)
Click here to see more of CrumbsAndGubs’ art on iCanvas.
Aaron Allen | Abstract Portrait Artist
Heavily involved in art as a child, Aaron Allen eventually reignited his passion for painting where he not only conveys his experiences but also “gives viewers a sense of power and emotion”. Not being subjugated to one style, his creativity has spanned portrait and figurative painting with a mix of abstraction and surrealism. By honing his craft with dedication, his career has led him to being spotlighted by the Phoenix Art Museum as an emerging artist, a solo interdisciplinary show at Arizona State University, and current representation by Framed Gallery in Cleveland, Ohio.
This passion for art can be seen throughout his expressive portraits featuring vibrant colors, patterned designs, and abstract brushwork. From the last sunflower to colors of the heart to lost love in the city, we think his prints emit captivating and complex vibes.
![Aaron Allen painting - abstract portrait](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/aaron-allen-abstract-portrait-AAO17-920x1380.jpg)
![Aaron Allen painting - abstract portrait let love rule](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/aaron-allen-abstract-portrait-AAO4-920x1380.jpg)
![Aaron Allen painting - abstract portrait Ubuntu](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/aaron-allen-abstract-portrait-AAO75-920x1380.jpg)
Click here to see more of Aaron Allen’s art on iCanvas.
Kristin Fardy | Pop Culture Artist
Fascinated by faces, Ottawa, Canada-based artist Kristin Fardy loves to make portraiture fun, humorous, and unexpected. Inspired by the idea of taking “recognizable faces from pop culture and adding an unexpected twist”, she enjoys making herself and her viewers laugh at her art combinations. With her vibrant, pop-art influenced portraits being a version of stylized realism, each creation results in an eye-catching and non-traditional piece of artwork in the world of portrait painting.
With those touches of humor seen throughout her collection of Limited Edition art, she often showcases famous faces in new occupations or mixed with sweet treats. From Princess Diana and her stogie to Britney Spears with a sub sandwich to The Rock with a giant cake pop, her colorful paintings give off playful energy.
![Kristin Fardy art - cookie monster](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/kristin-fardy-cookie-monster-art-FDY4-1380x1380.jpg)
![Kristin Fardy art - taylor swift mcdonald's](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/kristin-fardy-taylor-swift-art-FDY7-1380x1380.jpg)
![Kristin Fardy art - drake as an astronaut](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/kristin-fardy-drake-art-FDY10-1380x1380.jpg)
Click here to see more of Kristin Fardy’s art on iCanvas.
Marcio Alek | Fashion Portrait Artist
A fashion designer and illustrator, Marcio Alek’s artistic background stems from graduating in fashion stylism from Studio Berçot de Paris, attending Fashion History at the Cartier Foundation, going to Art History at the Louvre School, and working on big names in fashion, such as Maison John Galliano, Bruno Pieters and Robert Normand. Believing in kindness, diversity, hope, and the restorative power of art, he immerses his portraiture with his fashion expertise, along with surreal elements.
Each of his female portraits exude a sense of eye-catching intensity that makes you question the inner emotions behind each subject. From tribal attire to abstract faces to Baroque ladies, his prints provide glamorous and thought-provoking energy. If his style feels familiar, you may have seen him work for several publications such as The French Têtu, the Brazilian Caras, Capricho, and the SPFW Journal.
![Marcio Alek painting - sacred beauty](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/marcio-alek-female-portrait-MAQ54-920x1380.jpg)
![Marcio Alek painting - black beauty portrait](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/marcio-alek-female-portrait-MAQ20-920x1380.jpg)
![Marcio Alek painting - black beauty](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/marcio-alek-female-portrait-MAQ27-920x1380.jpg)
Click here to see more of Marcio Alek’s art on iCanvas.
AtelierConsolo | Fashion Illustrator
Based in Sardinia, Italy, Aurora Consolo, the self taught artist behind AtelierConsolo, has a huge love for fashion and sketching. Her love shines through her collection of art featuring famous icons in recognizable outfits, drawings of designer purses, and beautifully glam makeup looks. Her dedication and passion for art has led her to building a name for herself, with her work being used by The Kardashian Family, Rihanna, Paris Hilton, and many more.
No matter if it’s a detailed creation of a smoky eyeshadow look or a print of a superstar posing, her artwork pulls us into stylish scenes. From Barbie in a retro bathing suit to Betty Boop as a modern babe to the many looks of Sarah Jessica Parker, we think her artwork can help you add some glamor and confidence to your space.
![AtelierConsolo art - sex and the city characters](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/AtelierConsolo-sex-and-the-city-fashion-illustration-ACN32-1380x1380.jpg)
![AtelierConsolo art - dripping blue lips](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/AtelierConsolo-lips-illustration-ACN44-1380x1380.jpg)
![AtelierConsolo art - beyonce](https://www.icanvas.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/AtelierConsolo-beyonce-fashion-illustration-ACN29-1380x1380.jpg)
Click here to see more of AtelierConsolo’s art on iCanvas.
Want to see even more talented creators? Click here to see all Art by LGBTQ+ Artists on iCanvas.