Artist Spotlight: Devin Kane, International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) 2026

What does IDAHOBIT Mean To You?

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, to me, is not only a day that raises awareness of the issues still faced by the queer community but is a reminder of how far we have come, with the date itself commemorating the day that homosexuality was finally declassified as a mental disorder in 1990. 

Things can be tough, and IDAHOBIT is a day where we can acknowledge that, find strength in community and find support from allies, but it is also a reminder that things can get better. It’s a day to reflect on our history, how things have changed, the people who came before us, the things that still need to change and the people fighting for that to happen.

Tell us about the piece you’ve created for IDAHOBIT

I felt that the progress pride flag itself was a perfect representation of what IDAHOBIT is, acknowledging change and striving for inclusivity, so, I made this the central image, including free-hand designs in the stripes. The knuckle tattoos represent resilience and strength, with the ‘O’ being the trans symbol. I did this to acknowledge the issues being faced by the trans community in particular at the moment, but I also have this same tattoo on my hand so it was a subtle personal touch for me too.

What do you hope LGBTQ+ young people will take from this piece?

I hope that young LGBTQIA+ people who see this piece will take comfort in the idea of community. Community is everything. 

It can feel really scary to exist as a young queer person, especially recently, but there is a whole community of people (and our allies too!) that want nothing more than to create a better future for young LGBTQIA+ folks and endeavour to do so.

Do you think art can bring communities together?

Absolutely. Art has this wonderful way of encouraging conversations that may not have happened otherwise. I, personally, have had some really lovely conversations with people who didn’t know what a trans or non-binary person was until they encountered it in my artwork at markets, and they asked questions, listened intently and learned.

How do you use your art to share positive messages of hope?

I think that representation in and of itself can be a message of hope, particularly to young LGBTQ+ people who may not get to see people like themselves represented positively nor often in the media. I love to paint and draw portraits of queer people and do so quite frequently. Queer people deserve to see themselves represented in art and in general!

Where can we find your art online?

You can find my work on my Instagram @devinkaneart and on my online shop devinkaneart.myshopify.com