Creator Short Story;
“Work of Art” was born from re-imagining who is honored through marble statues
Reimagining the Ideal Figure
For centuries, statues have represented a narrow idea of the “ideal body.” Marble figures frozen in time were treated as the highest form of beauty, shape, and purity. We've seen or romanticized these human sculpted bodies of art. These marble statues were created as powerful symbols of power, divinity, depicting gods and heroes. They're an expression of "human perfection".
I wanted those with similar or adjacent experiences to me- having had top surgery as gender affirming care- to see their bodies as the works of art that they are. We're the painter and the canvas, the poet and their words. We're the sculptor and the raw material. It's a beautiful thought that came to me when I was feeling gender euphoria post-top surgery.
What if all these glamorous statues were of real- queer- trans- beautiful people? To me, that's art that I would deeply appreciate. Our uniqueness, our self-made spirit as the driving force within our diverse bodies are true works of art.
Bodily Autonomy
The figure in Work of Art isn’t about perfection. It’s about authorship.
Trans and gender-expansive people are often told that changing their bodies is something to question, justify, or defend. Bodily autonomy means the fundamental right to control your own body and make decisions about your health, identity, and life, free from interference from the government. Gender and "sex assigned at birth" is made up as a tool to be used by the oppressor to manipulate circumstance to target anyone in the system that they want to. This isn't exclusive to trans people. There is no meaningful difference—except one is revered, and the other is politicized.
From Doubt to Clarity
“Work of Art” marks a turning point: the moment when doubt dissolves.
That shift—from darkness and second-guessing to crisp, clean knowing—is irreversible. Once you see yourself as both the artwork and the artist, the old filter collapses. There’s no going back to viewing your body through someone else’s fear or framework. This design captures that moment of clarity—the moment when self-creation stops being a question and becomes a fact.
The Power of Self-Creation
The typography is deliberate and assertive because the message needs no apology. The imagery pulls from classical form, while modernizing it and honoring top surgery scars as a beautiful detail. If marble bodies carved by others are celebrated as masterpieces, then bodies shaped by lived truth deserve that same reverence—if not more.
This is not about fitting into history
It’s about challenging who gets to be considered part of it.
The Message
“Work of Art” is for trans, non-binary, gender-fluid, genderless, transmasculine and gender-expansive people. Transformation is a becoming, it's not a deviation. Our existence is intentional, sacred and self-authored.
You are not unfinished.
You are not unnatural.
You are a work of art — in your own creation.
Expanding on Bodily Autonomy
Since we're on the topic, bodily autonomy is also about the ability to change legal documents, and the right to self-determination. This is about reproductive justice as a fight for freedom from coercion and control over one's own physical self. Autonomy is crucial for authentic self-expression and well-being. Bodily autonomy is facing significant attacks right now, particularly for trans and non binary people. Many states have banned or restricted access to gender-affirming care (GAC), including hormone therapy, despite it being medically necessary and supported by major health organizations. These bans severely harm trans youth mental health, increasing distress and feelings of invalidation. Lawsuits have challenged bans on GAC and surgeries, with some success, but access remains difficult and often requires extreme litigation. Healthcare is being denied for trans people, increasing risk of self-harm and suicide.
It's particularly severe for incarcerated trans people where healthcare is being denied completely in the multi billion dollar prison industry. There are forced genital searches in jails, and housing based on "birth sex", leading to heightened risks of violence, mental health crises, and systemic discrimination- despite medical consensus supporting GAC and existing federal protections. Placing people based on sex assigned at birth and not gender identity, exposes them to high risks of violence, abuse, and solitary confinement.
Organizations to Support;
- Transgender Law Center (TLC): Focuses on changing laws, policies, and attitudes, with a strong emphasis on prison conditions and healthcare access for trans people.
- Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE): A major advocacy group (formed from NCTE and TLDEF) working on legal and political change for trans rights, including issues in carceral settings.
- Trans Lifeline: A peer-support hotline and microgrant provider for trans people in crisis, offering direct community-led support.
- Gender Spectrum: Provides resources, education, and support for gender-diverse youth, their families, and educators, helping create affirming environments.
- Trans Youth Equality Foundation (TYEF): Offers education, advocacy, and support for trans, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming children, youth, and their families.
- Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP): Works to guarantee legal rights for trans and gender nonconforming people, especially those in poverty or marginalized communities.
- ACLU: The American Civil Liberties Union often takes on landmark cases for trans rights, including healthcare and prison conditions.
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The Trevor Project: Focuses on crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth, including trans youth, often dealing with the impacts of discrimination.
