Share Your Art

At Free2Luv, we’re passionate about supporting underrepresented and diverse creative voices by sharing their innermost thoughts, experiences, and perspectives through art.

We want to see what Queer and Trans joy means to YOU! Share your art, and be part of a diverse community of creative voices.

HOW TO SUBMIT:

Upload a digital file (jpg, png or pdf accepted) or photo of your final masterpiece isn’t digital to the form below (minimum 300 DPI, max file size 2 MB). Submit as many art pieces as you’d like!

ART GUIDELINES:

When you upload your art here, you confirm that it is your original creation and does not infringe the copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other intellectual rights of any third-party person or entity.
No AI artwork accepted.
Upon submitting, you irrevocably grant to Free2Luv and each of its partners, licensees, successors, and assigned the non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, no-cost license and right to use the submission.

2024 CONTEST WINNING SUBMISSIONS

1st Place

Open your eyes to the world

“There were many artistic depictions regarding the queer movement. However, the main success of this movement would be realised only when you open your eyes to the world and accept the realities that some people face in their lives. This part became the inspiration for my artwork – Quirkily depicting a scene where the person opens his eyes to put on a liner. Thus indirectly opening his eyes to the many realities this world has. I feel this has not been represented enough artistically.”

@skanda_illustrations

2nd Place

Toransu Euphoria

So with this piece in mind, i wanted to break it down into various symbols, of the trans and LGBT Community:

-The Tiger: So this is of a pun used by the Japanese Transgender community and i wanted something to represent a part of my ethnicity , The tiger has been adopted as a symbol of the community over in Japan recently based off the fact of the punny nature of writing out trans in katakana which is トランス [To-ra-n-su] , the first two characters,トラ [To-Ra] is the Japanese word for tiger, is it also why i chose to call my piece Toransu Euphoria, instead of Trans Euphoria.

-The Frogs: I’ve seen frogs as a common symbol across all walks of the LGBT community, from transgender, lesbians, nonbinary and so many more, so i wanted to include them as a sort of universal symbol to represent the other communities.

– The Butterflies: Probably the most common symbol of the trans community I’ve seen out there and its easy to see why, the change from the humble caterpillar to the beautiful butterfly is a fantastic representation of one’s journey to be the version of who they want to be.

To me, my piece represents the euphoria i’ve experienced ever since i started my journey on HRT about a year ago, and how its been both an excited and exhilarating journey to finally feel right in my skin, to wake up the morning finally growing a beard and seeing the person i’ve always viewed myself to be in the mirror.

@squid_kiddo

3rd Place

Trans Joy!

My piece is a depiction of the joy felt by trans people through building the body they want to live in. Whether that means HRT, surgery, new clothes, a different voice tone, or just the act of coming out. Self actualization can be especially terrifying and difficult for trans folk; it can reveal new feelings and dig up old ones as we take steps in finding out who we really are becoming, against all odds. But with this soul-bearing evolution comes an immense joy in knowing that we have the power to change the vessel we were given into something created in our own image. Queer joy is liberation, and that is sacred. Stay safe and find your joy.

@horse.with.hands

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The Joy of Partnership

Read Banned Books

Wear Your Flag With Pride

QUEER JOY AMPLIFIED GALLERY

2024 'qja' contest sponsors

WEAR Your PRIDE

When you shop our PRIDE collection, you provide hope and support to LGBTQ+ teens and young adults struggling with their identity, mental health and/or self-harm. Your purchase ensures our art empowerment mental health program reaches their hands and hearts.

QUEER VOICES AMPLIFIED

Play Video

Share Your Story

If you’d like to be part of a QUEER JOY AMPLIFIED video compilation, create a video responding to any of the questions in the videos above, complete this form, and we will provide a link for you to upload your video.

VIDEO SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

Please keep video under 2 minutes.
Shoot horizontally (if on phone).
Make sure you are well lit.
Sound: Keep in mind background noise when you record.
When you upload your video, you irrevocably grant to Free2Luv and each of its partners, licensees, successors, and assigned the non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, no-cost license and right to use the video submitted.

FREE MENTAL WELLNESS RESOURCE

Are you ready to take a step toward your well-being? Creative expression can be a powerful way to heal and gain a new perspective on ourselves and others. To celebrate your creativity, we’re giving away EXPRESS IT creative expression activity books to anyone who would like to express themself through words, doodles, or drawings. EXPRESS IT! is, at times, an activity book, a trusted friend, a creative outlet, and a private journal designed to support your mental health.

Sign up below for your FREE creative expression journal.

We respect your privacy. We won’t sell or share your information. If you are a minor, you must have parental consent. U.S. residents only.
* required

QUEER VOICES UPLIFTED

Free2Luv and the Express It! program has been a useful tool in helping our LGBTQ+ kids feel more comfortable with themselves, combat bullying, and express their emotions more easily. The book and art kit have been a huge success in giving the kids an outlet to express themselves and gives them the prompts to think more deeply about their emotions and who they are as a young person. The staff are extremely helpful and caring. We feel very fortunate to have such an amazing resource as Free2Luv!

Three years ago, I reached out to Free2Luv when my daughter was struggling with bullying at her school. Since then, they have helped her share their programming with her school and she has become a Youth Advocate for their organization. It’s been such a joy to see her confidence grow. She is truly a different person. She now shares their message of kindness and bullying prevention throughout her community and is touching the lives of her peers in a really positive way. I have watched Free2Luv improve my family’s life and touch the lives of many others. It’s so important that we support organizations like Free2Luv and do our part to make the world a better place for all children.

Free2Luv’s program is something every Girls Inc, Affiliate and youth serving organization should be a part of. The Express It! books are unique, user friendly, and super fun and make it possible for youth to process some of their difficult feelings and emotions. It’s is a great way to address youth mental health but in a creative and expressive way. We know that youth mental health needs are at crisis levels, and this is something that can easily be put in place to help address some of those needs in the now. It gives participants an opportunity to reflect and share their thoughts on different topics and themes within their world and helps them realize they are not alone. Thumbs up all around!!

I had the pleasure of working with Free2Luv last year as a grant researcher and writer. I was moved by their commitment, hard work, and professionalism in improving the lives of disadvantaged youth everywhere, whether it’s fighting bullying, helping them to increase self-esteem, developing their communication and job skills, or encouraging them to accept and embrace their individuality. Through art empowerment workshops and events, Kym and Tonya have put their cause to work, getting measurable results and achieving their goal of helping to make the world a braver, kinder place.

I want to thank Free2Luv for everything they have done for my family. Our teen was experiencing extreme bullying which led to depression and a very dark and lonely place. We were referred to Free2Luv through a family friend and their support has been life-saving for us. Their message that every child, every person is unique and special and should be celebrated for who they are came at the right time. They were able to share their programs with our son’s school and the results have been astounding. We are happy to support this amazing nonprofit to make sure other kids in need are helped and supported. Words can’t express our heartfelt gratitude.

I had the great honor of organizing and working with this incredible organization. The event I attended was a college event for National coming out day. The response from Free2Luv was awesome 3 lovely people accompanied me on this journey for the day. The level of professionalism was next to none. Welcoming people with cheerful greetings and genuine interest in peoples lives. I sat in awe as people felt the need to open up to us, it was definitely a safe place to be who you are. it was a very fulfilling event for me and it changed the way I saw the world. The representatives from Free2Luv are so awesome and they are so welcoming. I am honestly honored to be part of an organization this dedicated and passionate.

Share Your Art

ART GUIDELINES: