Have you seen Minus18’s gorgeous Trans Awareness Week social media posts, and poster resources this year? We’re SO excited to introduce you to the talented artist behind them: Ivan Jeldres.

Ivan (they/them) is a Melbourne / Naarm-based illustrator and artist with a passion for creating vibrant, joy-filled artwork. In fact when it comes to their creations, they’re largely driven by the joy their illustrations and creations bring to others.

Ivan’s work often draws from their experiences as a transmasculine non-binary person, with their work featuring bold shapes, colours and humour, stretching across painting, sculpture, and digital illustrations.

Here’s a little about the origin story of these gorgeous artworks – and the lil blobby guys you see within them! – straight from Ivan.

What inspired your artwork and approach for these Trans Awareness Week illustrations?

When I was first approached by the lovely people at Minus18, I knew I wanted to create a character of some sort to include in the hero artwork.

It was important to me when coming up with these lil guys in space – who I've been calling ‘the Blobs’ – that anyone would be able to see themselves, and recognize the very human characteristics and expressions they have.

Big inspirations for me were two video games that have been on my mind recently: Big Walk by Australian developers House House, and Piku Niku by Sectordub. In both games you play as a genderless, colourful blob-like character with eyes. Even though they don't look like you and me, I can still recognize and see a part of myself reflected in them.

Not every gender diverse person looks a specific way, and not every blob looks the same either. So I hope people are able to see one and say “that lil blob on the shooting star having a nice lil journey is just like me”.

How would you describe your art style?

I think the best description I can think of is like ‘transgender elevated childlike whimsy’!

Children's books have always been such a big inspiration to me, specifically the works of Shuan Tan. Even though those books are ultimately targeted towards a younger audience, the artworks within them are so detailed and the subject matter in his books always feels like it respects his audience without ever talking down to them.

I love to create detailed works that weave both story and charm together through strong shapes and bold colours. I just want to create art that makes people see themselves in it and smile.

What's one thing you'd want your younger self or other TGDNB youth to know?

Lots of people are going to come in and out of your life and that is okay – and also it’s annoyingly a key aspect of life.

There will be a few people that you know now who’ll hang around with you for a long time, but there are also so many wonderful people who have not had the privilege of meeting you yet and they are going to love you so much!

How will you be celebrating Trans Awareness Week?

I’m a bit lame and loooove to stay in my house with my lovely partner, who is also a fellow trans masc. So during Trans Awareness Week, we will be very aware of each other’s transness, in our home!

But I think I’ll mostly be taking time to check in with the many trans people and gender diverse people in my life and community, making sure they all know how much I love them and how much their friendship and presence in my life means to me.

I could never have imagined a life like this when I was younger and I'm so lucky I get to have a community I can make art for.

Download Full Suite of Ivan's Artwork & Resources

Check Out Ivan's Work