we’re here, we’re queer.
Welcome to our “We’re Here, We’re Queer” Spotlight Series, where we celebrate the incredible individuals who make up our vibrant LGBTQIA+ community. Today, we’re excited to highlight Ashten McKinney, a Transgender/Gender Queer local artist, curator, connector, faith leader, parent, community organizer, and visual storyteller, whose work is challenging stereotypes and offering healing to many.
Ashten McKinney is a force of creativity and compassion. Until earlier this year, Ashten was probably most familiar in the community for their role as the owner of Curatory Gallery in downtown Waynesville, where she provided a much-needed outlet for artists on the margins, offering a space where creativity and diversity could flourish. The gallery became a haven for those often overlooked by mainstream art scenes, particularly underrepresented and marginalized creatives.
Earlier this year, Ashten made the difficult and heartfelt decision to close the gallery in order to focus more on their ministry work. As a faith leader, Ashten has been working with the First United Methodist Church and the church’s Friendship House — a space that serves as a sanctuary where many in our community go to meet their needs and find connection.
When asked about the intersection of their faith and their identity as Transgender, Ashten said “I look at my gallery and other experiences within the art world as a form of ministry but without the language or label. It’s always been about working alongside and serving those living on the margins; the outcasts; the ‘other.’”
Ashten went on to explain further, “Moses was in exile, roaming the desert, wanted for murder when he was confronted by God. Abraham tricked people into believing his wife was his sister. Jacob was genderqueer and cooked/stayed in the tent with his mom, and God worked through Jacob’s lies and cheated his way to Esau’s birthright, then fled from the threat of his revenge before becoming the Father of Israel. His son, Joseph, wore a princess dress, was tossed aside by his family, and God still made sure his promises were kept and he became a leader in Egypt, saving them from famine.”
healing culture & challenging narratives
We appreciate how much Ashten’s journey as a Transgender/Gender Queer faith leader challenges the often pervasive narratives that create division between the LGBTQIA+ community and faith traditions. Ashten’s life and work demonstrate that faith and queerness are not mutually exclusive but can coexist beautifully. Ashten’s ministry offers a beacon of hope and acceptance, showing that the love and teachings of Christianity can embrace everyone, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
“Genesis was not a binary story… God created night and day, but he also created dawn and dusk. God made land and sea, but he also made beaches. And where is known as one of the most cherished views of beauty? That we go to on vacation to see?? A beach at sunset,” Ashten shared. It’s easy for us to see the ways they mirror their approach to art in their approach to faith, as was previously described in this article by Blue Ridge Public Radio, “McKinney’s paintings are rich with colorful, textured metaphor of reaching and climbing, of leaving behind one existence and discovering another.”
Here in the Appalachian South, it’s not uncommon for queer folks growing up to face religious trauma, feeling ostracized or condemned by the faith communities they were raised in. Ashten’s presence and work in our community offers a healing balm for many. Through their art, ministry, and unwavering commitment to inclusivity, they continue to inspire and support many. Ashten’s story is a powerful reminder that our identities are multifaceted and that embracing all aspects of who we are can lead to a more compassionate and connected community where we can all thrive.
“God did some of his best work in moments of transition, and worked through the marginalized groups and communities throughout ancient history, and continues to do so in present day. It is stories like these along with the Good News of Christ in our every day lives; an invitation sent for ALL people, that I feel are imperative that much of the queer, marginalized, suppressed, angry, alone, scared communities will experience Grace. I have never felt more loved, more belonging, more secure in my queerness and physical life than I have through walking alongside Christ as a loved beautiful, very specific and cherished child of God.”
I hope our LGBTQIA+ brothers and sisters, and fluid humans will all experience the undying love that they deserve. That was what the gallery platform served as, and where my faith and life with Christ has led me to ensure.
– Ashten McKinney
You can follow Ashten and support their work on the Curatory Gallery website, or on instagram at @paintmepassion (personal), @curatorygallery, and @thirstycanvasart (nonprofit art support).
You must be logged in to post a comment.