nina

Nina has had to fight for their safe space, literally as well as figuratively! They were once a member of the League of Lady Wrestlers, a feminist and performative art movement that tackled gender stereotypes in the wrestling ring. This context conducive to exploration and self-discovery helped Nina accept themself as queer. Above all, it taught them that you must show up authentically, as yourself, in the relationships and communities you build. Today, Nina renews this self-affirmation through art therapy.

A self-directed artist who has been drawing for as long as they can remember, Nina worked as an illustrator and muralist before earning a degree in community art education. They regularly publish zines and indie cartoons and are currently working on various graphic novels. Nina uses traditional mediums like watercolour as well as digital illustration to explore such themes as queer identity, memory and daily rituals, drawing on their own experience. Recent work includes the Cosmic Daily Diary Comics, which celebrate their life in Montreal in the cozy apartment they share with Larry and their Sphynx cat, Vashti.

Nina has always felt some level of discomfort with the traditional gender roles that were modelled to them from infancy, but didn’t always have the vocabulary to articulate their experience. Thankfully, they have always had art to express their thoughts and feelings, a vital tool that helped them navigate the many years of loneliness and confusion. Their project Am I Gay Enough? helped them come to terms with their non-binary identity. Today, their artistic practice allows them to stay centred and authentic as well as connect with others.