Trans* Talk: SweeThe4rTs Art Show
Art hanging at SweeThe4rTs summarizing the show’s purpose and community.
(Right) The Hot Rat Summer Artist (Anonymous), 2024. Stained glass, “rat magic,” and cement.
The Evergreen Echo
***We interrupt your regularly scheduled Trans* Talk for the following art show review:
On February 13, Common Objects opened its doors for SweeThe4rts, a T4T art show and market, created by the Trans community, for the Trans community to share art centered on the relationships between Trans folks.
T4T is the shorthand for “Trans for Trans,” meaning Transgender people who choose to date other Trans people or form relationships with other Trans people. The art show centered these kinds of relationships and art that reflected them; it explored love, sex, and companionship, creating a space that felt open and inviting to all Trans individuals while also remaining raw and vulnerable.
The showcase was put together by a collection of people well-known in Seattle’s Trans spaces, including two Trans art collectives, thequeeragendadotgay and Collective Motion. Thequeeragendadotgay, also known as hotratsummerdotgay, is a collective of Trans artists who focus on community-building and joy; in their own words: “We are a loose collective of interdisciplinary artists and lovers based in Seattle, WA. We believe Community is our Savior, and in the revolutionary act of living a brazenly joyous trans life.” Collective Motion is an art space, providing resources for Trans artists and creating compassionate spaces for them to work on projects. Other creators and curators for SweeThe4rTs include Al Pastries, a local Trans artist and former board member of Ingersoll Gender Center, and Jennifer Spektor, a therapist, DJ, and poet.
The art show and market was nothing short of magical. I attended with my partner, and the two of us explored at our own pace. There were art fixtures on every wall, zines on every bookshelf, and a live DJ pumping in experimental tunes and fun music. At each booth, we found Trans artists working on various projects—a leatherworker making custom BDSM collars, a carpet weaver making Pride flags into small rugs, and many more.
Melt the Moon by Swerv Wizely, 2026. Ceramic.
The Evergreen Echo
The art we encountered included mesmerizing tapestries, collages, and even large mosaics made by the same anonymous artist who created the Hot Rat Summer mosaic in Capitol Hill’s Prospect Park. We enjoyed many other pieces, including jewelry made by Quack, which used condoms instead of gems to create fashion-forward pieces that also honored safe sex. I was particularly fond of a ceramic piece depicting two rats holding hands, titled Melt the Moon, by Swerv Wizely, and a large blanket made of recycled materials that read “All Angels Are Transexual” by Frances James Dinger. Every piece by every artist at SweeThe4rTs told the story of Trans joy, love, and resistance, proving that though not every Trans experience is the same, there is beauty and creativity to be found in our experiences.
Spaces like this are invaluable to the Trans community here in Seattle and elsewhere. These spaces allow us to be creative, to explore our identities safely, and be immersed in our community. My hope is that places like this continue to exist and continue to grow and inspire more Trans artists to share their work and create creative places. This show will remain on my radar for next year, and I look forward to seeing how T4T art and love transforms in 2026.
Left: Condom Medallion Necklace, Quack x Okfochush, 2026. Beadwork and condom on Pelon with leather backing, beaded cord.
Right: Eternal, The Hot Rat Summer Artist (Anonymous), 2024. Square glass tiles.
