Since January 2020 Spectra has been running Art Therapy Groups for trans people. For Trans Day of Visibility, some participants have chosen to share some of the images they have created as part of this therapeutic process to give people a glimpse of the amazing creativity and self-expression within our community. These images were made between May 2020 and February 2021. This gallery contains pencil, biro and felt pen drawings, sketches, doodles, collages, digital art, photographs, stills from videos, paintings, diagrams, mixed media images, and poetry which participants have created and shared withing the therapy groups, and now are choosing to share with a wider audience. Together this collection represents a huge breadth of trans creativity and resilience as participants have used the arts to explore their identities, consider how to regulate their emotions, and put some focus on self care and support.
The images were made in response to the following themes:
Self care and support
Embodied emotions and emotional regulation
Self image and self esteem
Community and belonging
Ending and going forward
Participants have said:
“Expressing complex ideas through art helped me to articulate emotions and thoughts that I might not be able to put into words.
“Having to set aside time to do some art work without any pressure for outcome, and to just be improvisational has been really good. Also feels very special and unique to share artwork with other trans people.”
“Some of my artworks helped others in the group, and that’s made me realise that I have help and support to offer to others – that aspect has changed my life, I think.”
Spectra
03-2021