{"id":29759,"date":"2023-06-16T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.icanvas.com\/blog\/4-artists-living-in-california-copy\/"},"modified":"2025-02-18T12:57:31","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T18:57:31","slug":"4-artists-proud-to-be-lgbtq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.icanvas.com\/blog\/4-artists-proud-to-be-lgbtq\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Artists Proud to be LGBTQ+"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

These four LGBTQ+ artists create art in four different ways. Given their unique life experiences and artistic journeys, we\u2019d expect nothing less! From sensual and intimate to fantastical and enchanting, we\u2019re taking a look at how four LGBTQ+ creators make art differently.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With art becoming such a safe space for LGBTQ+ topics after the Stonewall rebellion<\/a>, you don\u2019t have to be part of the community to appreciate the power of representation. Being able to express themselves so freely, it makes sense that artists would be inspired in different ways by their sexual orientation. While we often see this self-identifying influence represented in art through rainbows, messages of advocacy, and gay icons, artists find inspiration in a variety of places. Sometimes, your identity drives what you create, but that\u2019s not always the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From adorable animals to magical females, the work from these artists can bring endearingly dreamy or inspirationally confident vibes. From surreal paintings to delicate watercolors, keep scrolling to find a new favorite artist.<\/p>\n\n\n

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1. Brenden Sanborn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Embarking on a spiritual journey to express a deeper realm of male sensitivity, passion, tenderness, and vulnerability, Miami artist Brenden Sanborn creates watercolors, mixed media art, and line art featuring nude men. With a strong emphasis on same sex male lovers, he focuses on LGBTQ+ representation through private moments of affection and connection through physical embraces. By also showing naked men in solitary situations and sometimes embellished with flowers, he unravels the true delicate beauty hidden within stereotypical masculinity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

From a couple getting close in the bedroom to the bare backsides of men with their arms around each other, we think his artwork can be a great way to set up a sensual and intimate atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Couples II”<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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“Cascade Of Nature – Blue”<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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“Love At The Festival”<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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“Summer Days Gone By”<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to see all of Brenden Sanborn\u2019s artwork available on iCanvas.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Alijhae West<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Inspired by creating distinctive characters, emotions of love, and other ranges of feelings, Orlando artist Alijhae West\u2019s digital creations feature stylish and self-assured women. Sometimes highlighting female same sex relationships, she brings in a slight LGBTQ+ influence through loving portraits, a pride month proclamation, and a touch of eroticism. With the rest of her collection showcasing ladies with nature, colorful hair, tattoos, and typography, she hones in on personal expression and embracing who you are.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

From sweet African beauties to a nude woman basking in self love, her prints are full of radiant female energy. Making her artwork a wonderful way to fill your space with confidence and inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“African Beauty”<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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“Miss Me?”<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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“Self Love”<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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“Pride Month”<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to see all of Alijhae West\u2019s artwork available on iCanvas.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Ejiwa Ebenebe  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Striving to create representation for Black and LGBTQ+ voices, Canada-based artist Ejiwa Ebenebe creates surreal female portraits infused with magic, flowers, and other natural elements. While there\u2019s no LGTBQ+ couples or specific references in her creations, we can see the subtle influence through swirls of rainbow colors along with themes of hiding or breaking free. By incorporating dreamy elements and often focusing on a oneness with nature, she helps us dive into mesmerizing worlds. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

From rays of light shining through a cracked neck to a lady surrounded by colorful melting candy, we think her artwork can be a lovely way to amplify feelings of fantasy and enchantment in your space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Gentle Reverie”<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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“Fragmented Chime”<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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“Genesis”<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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“Candy Melt”<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to see all of Ejiwa Ebenebe\u2019s artwork available on iCanvas<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. Iryna Khort<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Inspired by birds, nature, and people, Sweden-based artist Iryna Khort\u2019s art features paintings of sweet animals. With her work not touching any LGBTQ+ topics, she strictly depicts colorful birds, farm creatures, and other wild critters. By showcasing her subjects in a soft light, she pulls us into delightful portraits with loveable faces.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

From an adorably fuzzy bunny to a closeup of a cow\u2019s face, her prints are full of friendly and precious living beings. Making her artwork a nice way to create a dreamy and endearing atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Aspiration”<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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“Lovely Day”<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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“Here We Go”<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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“Together”<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Click here to see all of Iryna Khort\u2019s artwork available on iCanvas<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Want to see even more? Click here to see all art by LGBTQ+ artists<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From surreal paintings to delicate watercolors, see art from four artists who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":29797,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1461],"tags":[1526,5035,6134,6348,6503],"class_list":["post-29759","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artist-spotlight","tag-lgbtq","tag-alijhae-west","tag-ejiwa-ebenebe","tag-iryna-khort","tag-4-artists"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.icanvas.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.icanvas.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.icanvas.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.icanvas.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.icanvas.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29759"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/www.icanvas.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29759\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41868,"href":"https:\/\/www.icanvas.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29759\/revisions\/41868"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.icanvas.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29797"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.icanvas.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.icanvas.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.icanvas.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}