An LGBTQ+ owned bakehouse in Inverness has taken Pride month celebrations one step further by partnering with print studio Isle of Riso for a themed display.

Run by Fernando Basaldua and Tristan Aitchison, Xoko often works with local creatives to host monthly exhibitions, and over the course of June they will display bright and bold prints that represent the artists' own identity or the wider LGBTQ+ community.

The 12 artists were collated by Isle of Riso, which was launched in 2021 by illustrator Alice Prentice as the first of its kind in Inverness, aiming to help local artists and businesses discover the exciting possibilities of riso printing.

Forming a "Pride Wall" inside the bakery, the artists featured are Amy F Anderson, Ariana Lupascu, Daisy May Nash, Greg McIndoe, Issey Medd, Leo Valenti, Lukasz Lesnik, Nico McLaughlin, Ollie Bartolowicz, Rowan Frewin, Srija Shrestha and Zipporah Reynolds.

All of the artworks were produced using a riso printer – which operates similarly to a screen printer by printing one layer of vibrant ink at a time – and copies of all the art work displayed are available to purchase for £25 throughout June.

The exhibition features a wide array of different styles and subject matters; from fun fruit stickers to colourful eyeballs. Some artists chose to shed light on different aspects of modern queer culture while others took inspiration from LGBTQ+ icons from throughout history and mythology.

Glasgow-based illustrator, Nico McLaughlin wanted to honour famous bisexuals with her artwork, saying: “When researching for this project, I wanted to go through the entire alphabet – but I stopped at A once I read the story of Julie D’Aubigny.

“Aubigny was a French opera singer, cross-dresser, fencing master, and raging bisexual. From burning down a convent to rescue the woman she loved to falling for a man she nursed back to health after beating him in a duel, this woman was fierce, unapologetic and loved who she wanted!”

Comic artist Rowan Frewin chose to incorporate butterflies into their artwork to symbolise gender fluidity.

“Each of the butterflies in this piece is a gynandromorph, meaning that they contain both male and female characteristics,” Frewin said.

“As a non-binary person, I love seeing the ways that nature is not always as binary as we are led to believe.”

Dundee-based visual artist Lukasz Lesnik explores the idea of emotional disconnect in his print, saying: “The piece depicts two male figures in a sexual act, but this work is not about intimacy.

“There is a deeper personal meaning to this artwork as it represents the 'hook-up' culture that is very much present in today's society and that many can relate to.”

Nepali-born, Inverness-based illustrator Srija Shrestha opted to look at a more tender side of queer life.

“My piece explores the themes of feminine love, gentleness and loving freely,” Shrestha elaborates.

“It features a sweet Nepali text ‘Mero Maya’ which is commonly used to address our dear ones and lovers.”

See more of the pieces of artwork on display and available to buy at Xoko below.

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