LEARNING TO LOVE
Narrative Portraits

The Narrative Portraits series elevates the visibility of Black Queer and SGL artists across various disciplines by featuring the work of emerging contemporary artists rendered through a digital lens which explore same gender loving narratives of self-acceptance as a rite of passage towards learning to love ourselves and each other.

Darian Stewart (He/They)

Darian Deshawn Stewart is a New-York based multidisciplinary artist, born and raised in Arkansas, who merges multimedia collaged images, materials such as beads, rhinestones, fabric, and paint together to create complex compositions full of layers. Stewart draws from personal experiences within his work navigating life as a Queer Black man, a father, a lover, and a free spirit. Stewarts work explores the notions of identity, the African diaspora, sexual liberation, Queer navigation, escapism, and the dichotomy of being Black and White.

Stewart attended Arkansas State University where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in both Graphic Design and Fine Arts in 2019. He received his Masters of Fine Arts degree at Parsons School of Design in 2022. He has exhibited at The Bradbury Art Museum at Arkansas State University, 25 East 13th Gallery, the Window Show at The New School, Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Gallery, Mobifest, Somad Gallery, Silvermine Gallery, ArtCrawlHarlem, Artful Walls Gallery, and Kente Royal Gallery. Stewart will be attending Chateau D Orquevaux residency in France Spring 2026. Stewart loves spending time with his daughter, exploring the outdoors, and fashion.

What inspires you to make art?

My art is inspired by my personal experiences: the stories of my community, and most importantly, my daughter, Sutton.

How do you want your art to inspire others?

I want my art to create a sense of connection and relatability for others. My goal is for people to see pieces of their own stories reflected in my work, helping them feel seen and understood. I hope my art encourages viewers to explore their identities, embrace their complexities, and find strength in their experiences. Ultimately, I want to inspire dialogue, self-discovery, and a deeper appreciation for the shared humanity that unites us all.

How do you want your art to inspire others?

Absolutely. Art can be a powerful tool for learning to love yourself as a Queer person. It provides a space to explore and express your identity authentically, helping you celebrate your uniqueness while reclaiming the narratives that define you.

Zella Vanié (They)

IG: ZELLA.VANIE

Zella Vanié is an artist and designer who splits their time between New York City and Côte d’Ivoire. Their large scale paintings are an ongoing translation of their reverence for the natural world, the boundaries between the material and immaterial, and dialogue with community and contemporaries.

As an artist, Vanié has exhibited globally, including in galleries across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Philadelphia, and Amsterdam—where they participated in a group show marking 150 years since the abolition of slavery in Dutch colonies. They have received grants and residencies from Mass MoCA, the Canopy Program, Flux Factory, and The Other Art Fair. Vanié is also a founding board member and design lead with the Black Veterans Project. They earned an MFA in Interaction Design from the School of Visual Arts

What inspires you to make art?

I draw from my autobiographical experiences, dialogue with community, archival research, automatic sketches, my reverence for nature, and spirituality.

How do you want your art to inspire others?

My work centers the idea that personal and collective imagination are a powerful tool for liberation here and now. I aim to ask new questions about what it means to be free; while being a mirror for Black Queer folks to visualize our beauty, divinity, and the boundless new worlds that have always been ours to take up spiritual residence in.

How do you want your art to inspire others?

For me, being an artist is rooted in the art of living before the images I create. I can be artistic in the way I put together an outfit, the presence I bring to making tea, the way I arrive at meaning, how I curate my physical space, etc. In this way, creative living reminds me that my body is a site of knowing and belonging. And that container makes it easy to love every aspect of my becoming.

Theodoor Gabriella Grimes (They/He)

IG: GGGGRIMES

Theodoor Gabriella Grimes (They/He) is a Black non-binary digital artist known for his vibrant illustrations that center the Queer experience under the moniker ggggrimes. Based in the Bronx, Theodoor is entirely self taught. ggggrimes’ work is known not only for its dedication to uplifting Queer people, but also for its brilliantly colorful, lush, and peaceful depictions of Queer life.

Theodoor often describes his work as a portrayal of Queer people of color living happy, beautiful, and sexy lives: highlighting joyous and free worlds that every Queer person deserves. Theodoor’s illustrations are full of incredible detail and texture: tattoos, body hair, surgery scars, blushes, and seemingly endless patterns. Inspired by graphic novels and Manga, his portfolio boasts a large amount of comics with diverse characters and subject matter.

What inspires you to make art?

I’m inspired by powerful and loud Queer aesthetics, my Blackness, my inner child who craved understanding, and the beautiful Queer life I set up with my husband. I’m also inspired by safety, fashion, freedom, and fun.

How do you want your art to inspire others?

I want my artwork to inspire other people to create without supremacist limitations holding them back, as well as hold important conversations with loved ones. I want to encourage my viewers to explore their identity, play around with what could be, then embrace themselves lovingly and wholly.

Does art play a role in learning to love yourself as a Black Queer person?

Art has always played an incredible role in learning to love myself. In the heaviest of times, art is my true north, showing me a way that I didn’t know existed. It has given me confidence to advocate for and express myself. For so much of my life, I didn’t feel represented in the art world, so I began to create the representation I sought. My journey with art has provided me with a foundation of empowerment and a dedication to discovering new ways to love myself.