Drawing Queerness

You might not be familiar with the name Josh McKenna, a graphic designer from the UK. However, you may instantly recognize this iconic sticker if you use Instagram frequently:

Courtesy of joshmckenna.co.uk

The shading of this arching figure is very effective, because it makes the figure very vivid. The colors of the high heels are vibrant, highlighting the queerness of this otherwise male-presenting figure and matching well with the rest of the colors.

Technicalities aside, many figures that Josh has created are faceless, but you can just feel their happy energetic presence. Of several different skin tones and many visibly queer, Josh is bringing intersectionality to the world of otherwise monotonous icons. It is empowering to be visually represented, especially for social minorities. Josh also has created logos for institutions including the LGBTQ Community Center of London and he illustrated for Monocle magazine, a publication known for its design-minded, fun graphic layouts. 

Take a minute to appreciate these drawings of Josh and use them in your Instagram stories next time: