Having started with an outdoor fair at Love City Brewing in spring 2022, Trans Art Mart has since moved to the Bok Building and holds multiple markets throughout the year. Miller Potoma, one of the lead organizers, recalled the profound impact of last year's winter market, where the energy and unity of vendors and attendees were palpable and heartening.
The event's mission, according to Potoma, is to foster connections between people and artists, unite artists, and uplift the local transgender community. The organization of the event, carried out by a transgender staff, ensures that it remains a space dedicated to trans joy and inclusivity. Cisgender people are welcomed but are reminded that the primary focus is celebrating and supporting the transgender community.
Artist Ronnie Sterling, a regular participant in past Trans Art Mart events, returned this year with their colorful jewelry creations. Sterling played a curatorial role for the winter's market, aiming to provide a platform for new artists and showcase diverse mediums like perfume and candle-making alongside more traditional art forms.
Another artist, Seamone Farries, expressed how being surrounded by other trans artists with varying styles and approaches was creatively stimulating. Farries, who creates vibrant portraits and scenes depicting Black intimacy, focuses on representing Black love in all its forms and the diversity of the Black trans experience.
Organizers of Trans Art Mart align the event with broader political beliefs, advocating for Palestinian freedom and anti-Zionism, and believing in the liberation of all people. The entry fees collected at the market are used to pay staff, with additional proceeds supporting Housing Reparations Philly, an organization that aids Black Philadelphians in the queer and trans communities with housing.
The venue selection and event planning prioritize the absence of a police presence and enhanced accessibility, including strict COVID-19 precautions. Attendees also had access to free resources like COVID test kits, masks, and Narcan, an opioid-overdose reversal tool.
For attendees like RJ Giunta and Ceal, Trans Art Mart represents an inspiring and affirming space for trans creatives. Giunta, a first-time attendee, was inspired by the presence of an event solely dedicated to trans artists, while Ceal saw purchasing art as a way to uplift and support the trans community.
Trans Art Mart exemplifies a community-based initiative evolving to meet specific needs, with a focus on visibility, value, and celebration of transgender creators and their work. The event stands as a testament to the resilience, creativity, and solidarity within the trans community in Philadelphia.