Illustration of a huge black bear, mouth open in rage, towering above mountains and trees. On their back is a small figure in a blue dress reaching up to a glowing sun. Text says: “We Rise Like the Sun. Prayer for Trans Liberation”

We Rise Like the Sun

By Colin Laurel with Trans Student Wellness Initiative at UC Berkeley

“Growing up Black and trans, I sought assurance that I could be myself while navigating through a world that told me otherwise. I've grown attached to the idea of depicting people and animals like forces of nature that stand for the liberation of marginalized communities, rising up in the face of adversity. I hope for others to find solace in my work as a reminder that they are not alone.” — Colin Laurel

Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. By downloading this art you agree the terms of this license.

About the Artist:

Colin Laurel is a Black trans illustrator working in editorial, licensing, posters, and social justice. Throughout his work, he explores identity, culture, mental health and advocates for self-help through making art. Colin hopes that his practice will inspire others to use creative solutions as a means for therapy and liberation. He has worked with Adobe, the New York Times, Icebreaker, Media Res Studio, UC Berkeley, Poetry Foundation, and organizations such as Forward Together, Trans Justice Funding Project, and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. He lives in Portland and adores his cat.
@folklaurel | colinlaurel.com