Artist Spotlight : Rosa Kusabbi 🌟

Hey I’m Rosa Kusabbi an Illustrator and Animator based in Liverpool. After graduating with a first Class Illustration degree in 2020 I was named as one of the top ten illustrators to watch by the AOI. My work is centred around Queer joy, female empowerment and social issues such as climate justice. I’d describe my work as a mix of contemporary illustration with influences from vintage protest posters all tied together with a rebellious punky spirit. 

For me, Pride, at its core, is protest. It was born from resistance and built by those who refused to be silenced. For me, being queer means standing in solidarity with all oppressed communities. If your version of Pride doesn’t include trans rights and a free Palestine, then it isn’t something I want to be part of. Pride should be a celebration of community and of the queer people within it, but year after year it feels more commercialised. It’s a double-edged sword. During Pride Month, I receive more commissions, recognition and visibility than at any other time of year, often from outside the LGBTQ+ community. But when big brands and corporate sponsors take centre stage, Pride starts to lose its meaning. It stops serving the very people who created it and who still need it the most.