ABOUT THE ARTIST
Goodstrangevibes is run by Lou (they/them), a queer artist who creates illustrations to make a difference in respect to body image, mental health, LGBTQ+ topics and sex education. Lou's artwork is informed by their mental health journey (Anxiety/OCD/history of an Eating Disorder), queer experiences, academic insights (degree in Politics, Psychology and Sociology) and desire for change (the world clearly needs a big shake up).
With sustainability in mind, Goodstrangevibes' sells products including upcycled and standard tops, recycled notebooks, stickers, postcards, zines, greeting cards, posters and original art. Additionally, you can hire Lou to do commissions, host workshops and partake in collaborative projects.
In 2020 Lou launched their first self-curated 3D online exhibition about their gender identity, raising £200 for akt.
'In the process of recovery from an eating disorder I began drawing my own body - forcing myself to see my body as art and worthy of appreciation. I did this in the evening, a time I used to spend staring at my naked body feeling hate and repulsion. This new habit directly challenged these previous destructive thoughts, by drawing and liking the art I produced I then began to appreciate the body that had inspired them. This then progressed to me drawing a diversity of naked bodies accompanied by phrases such as 'there is no such thing as a bad or perfect body' - messages I wish I had heard more when I was younger and maybe could have prevented the illness I experienced.'
Lou Brown 2018
Awards
April, 2018
Winner of Napapijiri Graphic Design Competition, London
Exhibitions
June 2022
What's All The Fuss About, Online Exhibition, Changing Relations https://durhamstudents.shorthandstories.com/whatsallthefussabout/
June 2022
Let's Talk, Alington House, Durham
February 2022
Curious Family Arts Trail, York Art Gallery, York
August 17th - 31st 2021
Revolutionising Sex Education, Online 3D Exhibition, funded by Curious Arts and Queer Arts North
November 2020
For All The Words I Have Not Been Able To Say I Have Cried Queer Tears And Made Art, Online 3D Exhibition, https://www.goodstrangevibes.com/exhibition
May 14th - 28th 2020
Cherry Retrospective, Online 3D Exhibition, https://www.cherrygalz.org/exhibition
October 10th 2019
#UseYourWords - Jami UK, Head Room Café, London
July 5th - 7th 2019
Creative Voices Mind Exhibition, Bell House, London
February 25th - 12th March 2019
Keep Gazing, The Norman Rea Gallery, York
December 13th 2018
‘Tis The Season To Be Mindful, Off The Cuff, London
November 30th 2018
Newcastle Fine Art Postcard Auction 2018, Newcastle University Fine Art Department, Newcastle Upon Tyne
June 21st 2018
Nasty Women International Art Prize 2018 Showcase exhibition, Praxis Gallery, Newcastle Upon Tyne
" What a joy Lou Brown is to work with! Their pieces for the Nasty Women International Art Prize and NWNE residency really pushed their practice in a new direction and we could see huge development just over the short time of the residency. Michaela and I are both delighted to continue supporting Lou's work, particularly their projects linking mental health advocacy with art making, to this end Lou is one of 4 artists I am working with on a social practice research project during 2018/19. I look forward to collaborating with them on this and to seeing their practice and career go from strength to strength".
Lady Kitt,
Chair of judges panel, Nasty Women International Art Prize '18
2018
Brown was supported by the Student Initiative Fund at Newcastle University to aid the development of goodstrangevibes from June 2019 to November 2019
June 15th - 21st 2018
'For Sale' Exhibition, The Norman Rea Gallery, York
April 12th 2018
The F-Word, Doomed Gallery, London
Artist Residency
September, 2018
Nasty Women North East Residency
Education
2016 - 2020
First Class Honours, Politics, Psychology and Sociology, Newcastle University
© 2021 By Lou Brown