Darya Pavlovna was tired. So tired it felt like there was sand in her eyes and she rubbed at them constantly with the backs of her wrists because her hands themselves were too muddy. She drove in silence, wanting only the sound of rushing wind over her car as she wove through the rough forest roads. Her shift had been brutal, but now she had a few days off to go back to her cabin on the edge of the lake. Nadia would be there. Probably already she had arrived from Irkutsk and

Medium: Digital Art Size: 33.1 x 46.8 inches “Vivid is a celebration of the many colors, shades, and hues that make up the LGBTQ+ community. From the rich reds to the velvety purples, the diverse tones of the community is what makes it truly beautiful.” HANA SULIMAN she, her, hers College of Arts & Sciences Class of 2023, Undeclared Hana hopes to minor in Studio Art, exploring the ways in which artistic expression evokes social change in others. Her major artistic inspiration

I. that maybe you are what it is all for, but it does not last so very long, but you will last very long † but you bided your time in silence & there were hours for grieving †† spectre, you muse, eviscerate speak my name, you enervated shade, I swear we’re gonna make it marble statuesque, you angel, you arsonist: sear the streets paris is burning & my throat is full of brick dust & choke

***TRIGGER WARNING*** Phyiscal abuse/domestic violence Gillian Anderson was my Sexual Awakening except I wasn’t so much awake as I was a groggy kind of confused. See, the 12 year old reflection of me would wake up still dreaming and wonder How can someone be so beautiful? Well, Dear Younger Me: Roses are red Violets are blue I hate to break it to ya But you like girls too. But this is not a love poem. I was hit with a m

Living in color is a scary thing. Really. But listen, that is alright. Here, it’s I and I Let uncertainty be your guiding light. I have no compass. I have no map. I don’t know the limit of what I can do. I don’t know where I am heading. I don’t have a particular place in mind. But I have no reason to go back. Sometimes, the darkness lets us see who we really are. SAM POMIER JOFRE she, her, hers College of Arts & Sciences Class of 2023, Undeclared Sam intends to major in Histo

We are the black sheep, Lydia and I. At least, that’s what Grandma said the last night in the beach house, during the storm that kept us inside, depleting the wine. Grandma led the charge on the wine. “You’re her favorite,” she said, referring to her sister, my great-aunt Lydia. This was after she commented on the length and color of my swim trunks (short, lavender) and asked for the fifth time if I was seeing anybody. “The two of you… you understand each other.” The wine was

You are 14 years old, the only daughter of your mother and father, spending the two defining teenage years of your life in the middle of nowhere. Of course, the middle of nowhere has a name; one hour and 53 minutes outside of Roswell—of UFO crash site fame—is Good, New Mexico, a small town off I-285 with a population of 4,206 people. It is exactly 11 miles from the Texas border if you were to draw a straight line, and the host of what you consider to be the smallest military

Medium: Digital Art Size: 23 x 12.5 inches “The role of women (especially black trans women) in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights is extremely prominent throughout our history, beginning as early as the Stonewall riots with Marsha P. Johnson on the front lines of protests, advocating for safe spaces for transgender and homeless youth. She and Her is a piece that celebrates the diversity of queer women while also serving to recognize the sacrifices such women have made in order to b

Medium: Marker and pen Size: 8.5 x 11 inches “Sara is an artistic piece aimed at thanking the person who created a space safe enough for me to comfortably embrace my sexuality as a queer woman. From their unwavering support and unconditional love, Sara has become a symbol of growing strength, vitality, and intimacy in my life and the lives of others around them.” HANA SULIMAN she, her, hers College of Arts & Sciences Class of 2023, Undeclared Hana hopes to minor in Studio Art

**TRIGGER WARNING** Suicide Transphobia Please take care of yourself before, during, and after reading. Medium: Digital Art Size: 39.4 x 55.6 inches “According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), more than half of transgender male teens reported attempting suicide in their lifetime—this harrowing statistic struck me greatly and prompted me to create this piece. Suffocating was created with the struggles of trans and non-binary folx in mind, with the intention of increasing th