Rachel Wilkins

Conception Arts
LGBTQ Multimedia Artist, Historian & Activist

British artist Rachel Wilkins is preserving LGBTQ history through her series of works entitled ‘Shoulders of Giants.’ The 30-piece multi-media body of work is an homage to the advocates, change-makers, and unsung heroes, whose tireless efforts helped bring about social and political progress for LGBTQ people.

Wilkins creates intuitive and thoughtful abstracts using industrial materials such as household paint and masking tape. Layering mixed-media iconography atop the painting, presenting subjects standing proud within a world that conveys the weight of their contribution to time and history. Each portrait is paired with a personal letter of thanks from a member of the LGBTQ community. Each note expresses their gratitude and documents how they were personally affected by their hero’s contribution.

Through the Shoulders of Giants project, Wilkins has raised over $7,000 for LGBTQ non-profits, including the National LGBTQ Task Force. The collection will be permanently featured at the Edie Windsor Center in Hampton Bays.

Wilkins took a decade-long hiatus from creating her work to build Conception Arts, which has helped over 8,000 artists exhibit and sell their work internationally. While her artistic career took a back seat, Wilkins gained critical acclaim for her work championing other artists earning a ‘Woman of Influence’ Award from the New York Business Journal in 2016. Wilkins was also named ’40 under 40 LGBTQ leaders by Business Equality Magazine. Today, Wilkins also serves as a mentor and workshop leader for New York City’s NEW MUSEUM incubator program, NEW INC.