Melody J Sproates
Melody J Sproates (they/them) is an illustrator, lino printer and zine-maker based in Newcastle. With a passion for all things queer and spooky, they make cartoon and comic-style art and illustrations often influenced by pop culture, horror, 80s films and trans/non-binary experiences. Their work is playful, educational, cut and stick, silly and raw. Melody’s lino prints have been featured in the exhibitions; Immaculate Conception (Newcastle Arts Centre) and Ladies and Gentlemen (TESTT SPACE). Their art has been published in works such as ‘In Other words’ (The Metal), AXIS Social Works?, SPAM Spreads (The Baltic), Take care Zine, Spilt Milk, Queers SCV, The New York Zine Library and The Canny Little Library. They run Stay home stay queer, which is a free creative arts project and zine series aimed at spreading queer joy and positivity for isolated LGBTQIA+ people in unaccepting homes, who are unable to express themselves or are feeling distant of their identities during the lockdown. This month they were made a recipient of the Queering Middlesbrough Townhall commission, in which their work is being exhibited during Pride Month.