Lavender Mess

2024

ink, watercolor, and pen on cold press paper

From the Artist’s Private Collection | Limited Prints Available

Lavender has long been a “queer-coded” color, from the 19th-century descriptions of gay individuals having a “stroke of lavender” to the McCarthy-era “Lavender Scare” and the subsequent radical feminist group that proudly adopted the name Lavender Menace.

This abstract exploration uses those historical weights as its foundation. Rather than a literal depiction of the flower, the painting utilizes a scattered background and a shifting subject form to represent the fluidity and resilience of queer identity. The layers of lavender tones are not just aesthetic choices; they are visual echoes of a community that has survived through being overlooked, sidelined, and eventually, defiantly visible.

Working in an abstract style allowed me to capture the “emotional weight” as a historical and social reflection of belonging. The scattered forms suggest the messy, non-linear progress of our movements, where beauty is found in the fragments of our shared struggle. It is a celebration of the “menace” that pushed boundaries and demanded a seat at the table, honoring those who used their visibility as a tool for radical change.

Personally, this piece reflects my own journey of coming out as a queer woman and discovering the deep, vibrant contrasts within my community’s history. It is grounded in the commitment to highlight overlooked narratives and celebrate the complexities of surviving and thriving. Held in my private collection, this work stands as a testament to the fact that lavender is no shadow or a scare, but a vibrant, essential part of the cultural fabric of Mi’kma’ki and beyond.