I had a blast collaborating with my friend Briden Schueren on a pop-up show called Queertopia at Open Ground Studios in Seaside, California. In one week, we created 42 paintings together. Each piece was a true collaboration. The popup event raised over $1500 for Trans Lifeline.
Art and activism for the LGBTQ+ community brought us together over ten years ago. We’ve always wanted to do a collaborative piece, to have an opportunity to unite our different styles. We noticed that representation of queer joy is lacking and we want to change the narrative.
Together for one week in one state and space, we worked simultaneously, taking turns painting on the same canvases until the result was not Briden’s style or Paul’s style but something new.
We created QUEERTOPIA as a letter of appreciation to the LGTBQ+ community that supports us and as a letter of love and encouragement to youth. We want you to know there is a place for you in the world.
