![Closeup of a black and white mural with the progress pride flag colors by Stillo Noir](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/fe5744148470297.6401b3a7a465a.jpg)
Post-Pride Mural
I love Pride month: I love getting to celebrate with other queer folks, I love learning more about the community and its history, I love how it emboldens so many to be more loud and visible, and I love how this in turn can inspire others who are in the closet, or confused, or curious, to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery.
But like any month, day or week dedicated to a marginalized group, it also comes with a strange countdown, like this is the only time dedicated to us out of the year. This short period is when we’re allowed/tolerated/expected to be visible and loud, and when we’re propped up as tokens (in those places and communities where it isn’t too dangerous to do so). And then it’s back to normal with little actual change made in mainstream, ‘normative’ communities.
For this reason, in June I really didn’t feel like posting the “queer content” us queer artists are expected to cram in one calendar month. It would have felt forced, and like I was trying to please some kind of mainstream outside timeline, rather than what felt natural and creative to me, or useful to the community.
So I painted this mural the first week of July, after Pride month and after many folks are sick of seeing rainbow-everythings, because we continue to deserve space and visibility and support beyond these 30 calendar days. We’re still out here, and it still helps us to know others are around too, even if we’re assimilating and less visible.
I hope this mural can act as a little sign of validation, a little token of our community, to people who need it 365 days of the year.
Location: Calle de l’Hostal de Morella, Valencia, Spain
And a big thank you to Karla Sofia for her help and company painting that day!
![Stillo Noir in the process of painting a black and white mural in the streets of Valencia, Spain](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/efd1f4148470297.62d66d6ac8a7c.jpg)
![](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/8ca0c9148470297.62d66d664a03d.jpg)
![](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/d0fbe7148470297.62d66d6649473.jpg)
![](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/ff05a2148470297.62d66d6837d6c.jpg)
![](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/b77140148470297.62d66d6838987.jpg)
![Stillo Noir painting a black and white mural with the progress pride flag colors integrated.](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/3f064d148470297.62d66d6ac7f75.jpg)
Song: Cheveux d'Ange by Amarià | soundcloud.com/amariamusique
![A black and white mural with the progress pride flag colors integrated, by Stillo Noir](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/232fc0148470297.62d66d6ac951c.jpg)
![A black and white mural with the progress pride flag colors integrated, by Stillo Noir](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/6abed7148470297.62d66d6aca0a4.jpg)
![Closeup of a black and white mural with the progress pride flag colors by Stillo Noir](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/b7fb91148470297.62d66d6ac7453.jpg)
![](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/dbf2b1148470297.62d66d6a3e0f8.jpg)
![](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/431c1c148470297.62d66d6a3dab7.jpg)
![A hand holding a phone with a pattern showing the bisexual flag colors in front of a pride mural.](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/cc5adb148470297.62d66d6ac69f5.jpg)
![abstract blackandwhite LGBT Mural pattern pride queer rainbow streetart Urbanart](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/68d5da148470297.62d662891a819.jpg)