Artist Spotlight: Jonathan Carton, International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) 2025

What does IDAHOBIT mean to you?

I think #IDAHOBIT is more important now than ever. I have attended many prides in my lifetime and it is only recently that I am seeing a very real and scary pushback to pride. There is an undeniable rise to the far-right and anti-LGBTQ+ movements which has begun to spill over in the mainstream. I experience this in the way I am treated on the street in ways I have not been treated in almost 15 years. This is strange; I was born the year homosexuality was decriminalised in Ireland and have watched the pendulum swing all the way as far as the marriage referendum in 2015 which I proudly voted in. It is forward we should be moving, not backwards. The tables have begun to turn so it feels like we need to call it out now and call it out loudly before real regression is seen. Discrimination, repression and violence have no place in Ireland in 2025. We have to keep up the fight to use our voices and this is what #IDAHOBIT is for

Tell us about the piece you’ve created for IDAHOBIT

The theme for this years #IDAHOBIT is The Power of Communities so I wanted to visualise what that would look like in the context of the LGBTQ+ community. We hold space within the world we live in and carry out our lives as anyone else. We are your bakers, your baristas and your bankers. We are a part of a bigger story being told but what we must remember is how we treat each other and uplift one another within our community. This means being there in times of crisis as an ally for another as well as times of joy and celebration.

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

With this piece, I deliberately created a scene similar to what you would see in games like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley, where a sense of community is integral to your progression in the story. What is also important in these games is the player’s sense of individuality and how that progresses the further you progress and unlock. What I hope young people see in it is themselves and hope for the future that you can carve out a safe space and a sense of community for yourself. Yes, it can feel isolating in the beginning but this is just the first step in the long journey ahead to a much brighter future.

Do you think art can bring communities together?

When there is power behind an image, there is a collective response to it that captivates an audience. Art can be found in an art gallery, a street corner, a museum, a concert, a theatre show. All of which you experience with an audience. I studied art and art history and I think art college is an excellent place for someone who might feel a little unsure of themselves. You meet many people at different road stops along their own journey of self discovery. Surrounding yourself with these kinds of people can be very beneficial in building confidence (in yourself and your abilities) and fostering community.

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

Looking at the news and really anything on your phone at this stage can feel incredibly draining. When I put pen to paper, I don’t want to think about that at all. I want to create for myself. This can be challenging in the age of the algorithm and where you do have that thought in the back of your head of ‘will this perform well’ or ‘will this get clients’, etc. This adds to the existential dread but can be silenced by doing something that you love and are passionate about. If you believe in what you’re creating, that will inevitably shine through. I like to create things that make me happy, or around what I’m enjoying at the moment. When I do that I’m more likely to create again, and sooner. So the more I create the more I create the more I create the more I create.

Where can we find your art online?

You can find me on Instagram (@jonathancartondesign) and on my website where I also sell art prints (jonathancarton.com). I also post more behind the scenes work on TikTok (@jonathan.carton) and other fun stuff!