Watercolor illustration of Ky Peterson, a young Black trans man in a white t-shirt, with short hair and an earring, looking out at the viewer. Text says ”Free Ky”

This image was created in 2016 in collaboration with Ky Peterson and Pinky Shear. It has been used by people across the US to organize, educate, and fundraise for Ky’s homecoming, and to support freedom for all incarcerated survivors.

In 2011, Ky was forced to defend himself against a transphobic assault. Despite the fact that Georgia has a “Stand Your Ground” law, Ky was criminalized for being Black and trans. Instead of receiving care, he was arrested and held in jail for a year with no legal support or a trial. Finally Ky was pressured into taking a plea deal and spent nine years in prison.

In 2020 Ky was finally released. He continues to fight for trans liberation while supporting his family. The primary owners of this art are Ky himself and the grassroots campaign for his freedom.

This image was part of the Trans Life and Liberation art series which I organized in 2016. It included weekly trans activist portraits, an exhibit, and events in Oakland, California. A few other portraits from the series are below.