Author Archives: Suzanne Forbes

About Suzanne Forbes

Suzanne Forbes is a traditionally trained figurative artist who makes documentary art of queer culture and Berlin life. She also works in mixed media. She is a former New Yorker who immigrated to Berlin with her third husband and their two cats. Her work is crowdfunded by the support of her Patrons on Patreon; you could help! In previous lives Suzanne was a graffiti artist in downtown NY, a courtroom artist for CBS and CNN, a penciller for DC Comics on Star Trek, and a live-drawing chronicler of Bay Area alternative culture.

Friday May 29 : The Holy Cvnt Collective at Retramp and the Brazilian Bombshell Marie Devilreux!

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Liliana Velasquez at Holy Cvnt Collective opening at ReTramp Gallery by Suzanne Forbes May 29 2020Liliana Velásquez is one of my most inspiring Berlin muses!

She does so much performing and producing all over town, and is so funny and fabulous. She was a longtime professional artist’s model in NYC; I have drawn her so many many times, and I will never tire of her. She was in serious docent mode as she guided the virtual opening of Holy Cvnt Collective’s show at Retramp Gallery in Neukölln.

Yagama at Retramp Gallery by Suzanne Forbes June 17 2020Here are Yagama and Katya Tasheva performing.

Beautiful to witness!

Growler at Retramp Gallery by Suzanne Forbes June 17 2020This is Growler.

Growler is is a 79 year old vulva from Dublin. She produced a stuffed beaver from her…beaver! I fucking LOVE Growler.

Marie Devilreux by Suzanne Forbes May 29 2020The fabulous Marie Devilreux!

I had drawn Ms. Devilreux before, at Torture Garden Berlin, and watched her performing from up close. So I felt confident I could do justice to her livestreamed performance of one of her most popular acts, the Titty Twister!

I drew the Retramp livestream, had dinner and a mini-rest, then drew Marie!

I am so grateful to my Patrons on Patreon, whose monthly financial support makes it possible for me work safely at home.

As usual these drawings are licensed Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) for all to share and enjoy!

In addition, I release the copyright on each drawing to the performer shown and they may use the drawings for their own profit and pleeeasssure in any way they choose.

Center the Most Marginalized: Protect Black Trans Lives Embroidery

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Center Black Trans Sex Workers embroidery by Suzanne Forbes June 15 2020I wanted to do an embroidered work that was an homage to the Pride flag redesign by Daniel Quasar.

The redesigned flag, called the inclusive flag, was created in 2018. It has black and brown stripes, like the Philadelphia Pride flag, as well as the colors of the trans flag.

Center Black Trans Sex Workers embroidery by Suzanne Forbes June 15 2020 sideI love the design because it shows the responsibility of the “rainbow” queer community to embrace and protect its most vulnerable members.

Black leadership tells us to center the most marginalized. We must put the most vulnerable members of our community at the center. For my circular version of the inclusive flag I added the red umbrella of support for and solidarity with sex workers, because for many black and brown trans people, sex work is the only employment that doesn’t bar them. I also included the lavender of the Bisexual Pride Flag, because bisexuals suffer a high rate of domestic violence.

I am so happy that community came forth in numbers to support Black trans folx this past weekend. Love and support is essential to protect Black trans men and women and nonbinary people at this time when critical medical anti-discrimination protection has been torn away and violence against Black trans women is devastating.

RESOURCES TO HELP!

The Black Lives Matter actions carrd.

Paper article on how to support Black trans people now.

Vice article on orgs you can donate to help Black trans people.

Out Magazine Trans Obituaries Project, honoring Trans Women of Color lost in 2019.