Exhibit: illustration
Opening: Monday, September 12 | 7:00 – 8:30p
New Haven Pride Center, 84 Orange Street, New Haven
Join us for a celebration of print history from around the world from ancient times to the modern era. Explore the storytelling power of illustration in this unique exhibit featuring the works of three queer Connecticut artists: Julia and Katie Slaughter and Riley Samuels. Exhibition runs through October 6th.
This exhibition is curated by Juancarlos Soto.
FREE Event!
Meet the Artists
Julia Slaughter (she/her)
Julia Slaughter’s simple tapestries deliver messages through abstract surrealism about what mother earth holds for us in the change of seasons and quiet or anticipatory moments in nature. Each work is made with fully plant-derived, natural fibers or fully recycled synthetic materials. Julia is inspired by the harsh beauty of New England winters in the hills and calmer days in the marshy coastal areas of our shoreline. She earned a BFA from Paier College in 2014 and currently lives in western Connecticut with her wife and fur children.
Katie Slaughter
Katie has been creating art in one way or another her entire life. She studied Fine Art at Paier College of Art, with the intention of becoming a full time painter. Eventually, she had the realization that painting would not bring in a steady paycheck. Tattooing was something she intended to do for a few years just to pay the bills and allow for her painting career to take off, but instead it became another art medium that she fell in love with. Something that was intended to be a part-time gig, turned into a very full time job.
Although tattooing is a very time consuming and involved job, the goal to paint has never left her. After about eight years of tattooing, she is able to make time to create for herself once again and is currently creating a body of work with the intention of having a gallery show in the near future. She loves being able to apply her fine art and portraiture skills to her tattooing. Katie specializes in black & gray and color realism, portraits, linear and neo-traditional tattoos.
April 1st, 2022, Katie opened a private studio for herself: Katie Slaughter Studios, in Middlebury, CT. The studio is a joint space for tattooing as well as creating fine art. The studio is 100% vegan/cruelty free, and the entire tattoo set up is almost completely biodegradable/compostable, making this one of the most eco-friendly tattoo studios.
Outside of fine art and tattooing, Katie loves to spend her time outdoors with her wife, Julia, and their two dogs, Harvey and Frida. Some of her other hobbies are vegan cooking, weightlifting, hiking, bike riding, woodworking, reading about history, and watching movies.
Riley Samels
As a New Haven-based children’s book and pop-up card Illustrator, I use my platform and skill set to bring awareness to issues both social and environmental, as well as poke fun at some non-issues as well. I find value in presenting critical topics in a child-friendly format so that it can be digested by all audiences.