David Askew (they/them) is a Black, Queer, Non-binary oil painter whose work navigates the complex intersections of identity, sexuality, and societal constructs. Through the creation of human-animal hybrids, they explore themes of self-identity and the nuanced experiences of queerness, blackness, and racial ambiguity. These beings serve as powerful symbols, confronting the hyper-sexualization, animalization, and exoticization often associated with Askew’s identity in mainstream narratives. Through their art, David Askew invites viewers to engage in conversations surrounding identity, representation, and the complexities of navigating intersecting marginalized identities in a society that often seeks to categorize and exoticize them. Their paintings serve as both a celebration of individuality and a critique of the systems that seek to suppress it. Askew received dual BA degrees in Studio Art and Women, Gender, and Sexuality studies from the University of Virginia in 2022. They are based in Brooklyn, New York.