Shop Local Art in Support of LGBTQI+ Communities — and Help Save a Life

CRUSH, an exhibit of Canadian queer art, runs until July 31. All proceeds go to Rainbow Railroad, an organization that helps LGBTQI+ individuals facing persecution find safety through emergency relocation.

A piece of art is the easiest way to quickly transform your living space. Now, you can add a new print to your home and do some serious good at the same time. Like, help save a life good.

CRUSH is an exhibit curated and presented by XPOSED — a collaborative content platform that highlights inclusive culture, fashion and arts, co-founded by FASHION’s very own creative and fashion director George Antonopoulos — in collaboration with Yorkville Village. Running until July 31, the curated show features pieces from six queer Canadian artists in celebration of Pride Toronto 2021. The works create colourful, sensory experiences that portray real-life moments in unique and unexpected ways.

Best of all? All proceeds go to Rainbow Railroad, a global not-for-profit that helps LGBTQI+ people facing prosecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics. To date, the organization has helped over 1,600 people in the community find safety from systemic, state-enabled homophobia and transphobia through emergency relocation, often to Canada.

The artists featured at CRUSH include: Terran McNeely, a Toronto-based painter who works primarily in oils and acrylics and is inspired by a contemporary male representation; Samantha Garritano, a multi-disciplinary creator who is also known by the name Sultana Bambino and creates work driven by justice and community; Zachari Logan, whose drawings, ceramics and installations have been displayed around the world; Toronto’s Bruno Billio, who creates challenging installations, sculptures and designs; Adrienne Crossman, an interdisciplinary artist based in Hamilton, Ont., who uses their work to highlight queer sensibilities in the everyday; and illustrator Alexis Eke, who is inspired by renaissance portraits, her faith and earth tones and is on a mission to increase the representation of Black women in design.

Check out more of the incredible work by other artists available below. If you’re in Toronto, you can head over to see the exhibit IRL at The Fix, on the lower level of Yorkville Village. You can also shop the art until July 31 at projectxposed.com.