Public Art
Trans Love Traffic Monument
2022
Exclusively Inclusive: Using Art to Rethink Us vs Them
Arts Milton
Trans Love Traffic Monument was designed as a vinyl wrap for Arts Milton’s public art initiative, Exclusively Inclusive: Using Art to Rethink Us vs Them. This project sought to introduce artwork themed around diversity and inclusion into Milton’s urban landscape.
My artwork takes inspiration from medieval illuminated manuscripts and silkscreen prints to create a multi-faceted painting which appeals to the community of Milton to tap into the love already in their hearts for their transgender neighbours. Trans rights have advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years, but this has led to a fiery backlash, and a culture war continues to rage as we redefine our understandings of gender and sex in our quest to extend compassion and dignity to transgender and genderqueer individuals. This artwork affirms Milton’s capacity to love their trans community members and utilizes a language of mythology and metaphor to celebrate trans experience. The two narrow sides of the painting depict figures with both masculine and feminine elements, figures which joyfully exist in the in-between, as transgender people often experience. The front and top faces depict queer embraces, reiterating the artwork’s themes of love, queerness and unity.
Dundas & Elizabeth Mural
In collaboration with and under mentorship from Robin Henry
2022
OEV Main Street Mural Program
Old East Village Improvement Area, London, ON
The OEV BIA launched the OEV Main Street Mural Program in May 2022 to build community and beautify the neighbourhood. This program paired five artists for a total of five murals, created in partnership with property owners and businesses in Old East Village. Through this program, the BIA aimed to facilitate new artist partnerships and mentorship opportunities. The mural locations expand upon the existing public art found in Old East Village, creating art attractions for residents and visitors alike to enrich the experience of the neighbourhood.
I mentored under Robin Henry to collaboratively create this two-storey mural. It incorporates the symbol of blowing dandelion seeds as a hopeful wish for kindness and resurgence in the community. The mural is dedicated to Amara Hollow Bones.
Photography by Billy Fischer.
To commission me to create a mural or design a large-scale illustration for your personal or commercial project, please contact me at reillycknowles@gmail.com.