Graphic Sexuality – The Novel Art of Being Queer

(Chair) Seena Shamsavari (aka Sina Sparrow) is an iconic illustrator and comic book artist, as well as a prolific zine maker. He began producing zines as a teen throughout the 1980s and 90s, contributing to the queer punk scene with works discussing the hostility held towards the community at that time. His most popular work, Boy Crazy Boy, was created in 1993. It follows instances of life as a queer man at the time through both action and introspection, themes which are sustained in his 2012 zine, Art Fag. He now continues the conversation around these topics as a lecturer in Cultural Studies at the London College of Fashion.

 

Alex Taylor (azbt) is a London-based visual artist. He sprang further into the public eye after winning the 2023 First Graphic Novel award for his ongoing work, Bone Broth. Due to be published in late 2025, it is described to be a coming of age queer thriller, taking place in the backdrop of a ramen shop. Beyond comics and zines, they thrive in multiple media formats such as film and painting, all of which carry themes of queerness, identity and mental health, all drawn from own experiences. These each take a uniquely engaging and rich approach to the subject matter explored, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the queer experience.