

is a Puerto Rican artist who is known for his Latin pop music and representational queer art. He says, "I feel a great need to capture moments and stories that might otherwise be overlooked. I passionately believe that art should be accessible to all and that everyone should find themselves represented in and by it.”
JOHN GASCOT

is a fifth-generation Floridian whose multi-genre writing on the state's environment, its history/culture and LGBTQ+ communities forms the basis for The Thing about Florida: Exploring a Misunderstood State (2021), Florida Man: Poems (2018) and the nature machine! (2023). Tyler is a writing professor at Ringling College of Art + Design.
TYLER GILLESPIE

is CEO of the St. Pete Arts Alliance, a nonprofit umbrella dedicated to driving arts-related funding and advocating for the creative community. She is a seasoned nonprofit strategist and fundraiser.
TERRY MARKS
DIALOGUE LEADERS: LGBTQ IDENTITY and ART
June 27, 2024

Intersections of LGBTQ Identity and ART:
Reflecting – and Informing – Community Values
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How important is art to the cultural ethos of a community?
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How does LGBTQ+ identity intersect with other identities an artist brings to her/his/their work?
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How do economic forces impact an artists’ ability to create as well as to achieve sustainable livelihoods?
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Are there unique experiences, challenges and/or advantages encountered by LGBTQ+ artists?