Charlotte Belland, professor and chair of Animation at Columbus College of Art & Design, created 38 charming illustrations of the pets of Columbus LGBTQ+ people and allies for the exhibition Pets Together at Columbus’s John Glenn International Airport.
The Ohio Art League-sponsored exhibition at the airport’s Gateway to the Arts gallery celebrates pets of all shapes and sizes—including dogs, cats, ducks (and other feathered friends), a guinea pig, a rabbit, and even a horse.
The show presents the Belland’s eye-catching and often amusing pet portraits alongside information about the contributions of the animals’ owners, who include artists, educators, cultural and civic leaders, small business owners, and elected officials, all people making meaningful contributions to the central Ohio community and points well beyond.
This is the first time I have identified myself as part of the Columbus LGBTQ+ community through my art,” says Belland. “Art is defined by its ability to elicit a reaction. The pairing of sweet, happy pets with LGBTQ+ people and their causes is primed for a variety of reactions.”
Belland, an avid animal lover known for her daily creature illustrations on Instagram, shares her motivation for the exhibition was to create positive community connections by visually introducing viewers to a diverse group of Columbus-area residents via portraits of their pets. She hopes the exhibition resonates with broad swaths of the population and creates a sense of commonality within the complexities of the human experience.
Scroll through the below gallery to see a variety of pets from LGBTQ+ people and allies who are part of the CCAD community, and see all 38 pets and their owner stories here.
Copper and Biscuit | Pets of Dr. Melanie Corn, CCAD President Founded by women in 1879, CCAD has fostered the growth of thousands of creatives. Dr. Melanie Corn is the first woman to hold the title of CCAD president.
Pimiento and Sangria | Pets of Charlotte Belland, Chair of Animation (Graphic Design, 1996) Charlotte Belland and her wife Amy Price hope that the love we all share for our pets can build a bridge to help reduce some of the divisive rhetoric in our society.
Lady Constance Huxley Nibblington I (R.I.P.) | Pet of Eileen Galvin, CCAD Director of Applications & User Services Burlesque artist and Tarot reader Eileen Galvin serves on the board of Equality Ohio, a statewide nonprofit that fights for the lived and legal equality of LGBTQ+ Ohioans.
Horatio | Pet of Jen Burton, (Fine Arts, 2000) Horatio is the Assistant Manager at Seventh Son Brewery, which was co-founded by alum Jen Burton along with Collin Castore and Travis Spencer. Seventh Son is proud to regularly host queer-friendly events.
Otis (R.I.P.) | Pet of Julie Abijanac, Chair of Fine Arts and MFA Julie Abijanac, a passionate artist and dedicated educator, along with Travis Moyer, the proprietor of Terra-Firma Property Inspection, are committed to promoting equity and empowerment.
Zero (R.I.P.) | Pet of Rachel Lauren Robertson (Photography, 2010) Rachel Lauren Robertson’s work with Zero inspired her to pursue a dream of establishing the Ohio Canid Center, where assumptions about wolves and people can be replaced with love and respect.
Roscoe | Pet of Cat Sheridan, (Fine Arts, 2003) A practicing ceramic artist, Sheridan is a fervent supporter of artists and artistic communities. You can see her curatorial work as the Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery Director.
Follow Charlotte Belland and her work on Instagram or on her website. Learn more about CCAD’s Animation program or apply here.
