| Français | English
Up to 50% off décor!
Celebrate the season with 50% off holiday décor!
Find a store
Urban Barn
  • New
  • Living
  • Dining
  • Bedroom
  • Decor
  • Wall Decor
New
Furniture
Décor
Holiday
Sale
Shop The Look
Ideas & Advice
  • New
  • Living
  • Dining
  • Bedroom
  • Decor
  • Wall Decor
  • New
    • New
    • New Furniture
      • All Furniture
      • Living Room
      • Dining Room
      • Bedroom
      • Home Office
      • Entryway
      • Shop All New Furniture
    • New Décor
      • All Décor
      • Wall Décor & Mirrors
      • Lighting
      • Rugs
      • Pillows & Textiles
      • Home Accents
      • Kitchen & Tabletop
      • Shop All New Décor
    • Shop All New
    New
    Shop New Furniture
    New
    Shop New Décor
  • Furniture
    • Furniture
      Custom Best-selling furniture Furniture Collections
    • Living Room
      • Sofas & Sectionals
      • Accent Chairs
      • Ottomans & Benches
      • Coffee Tables
      • Console Tables
      • Side Tables
      • Bookcases & Storage
      • Shop All Living Room
    • Dining Room
      • Tables
      • Dining Chairs
      • Stools
      • Benches
      • Sideboards & Storage
      • Shop All Dining Room
    • Bedroom
      • Beds
      • Nightstands
      • Dressers & Chests
      • Benches
      • Bedroom Collections
      • Shop All Bedroom
    • Home Office
      • Desks
      • Chairs
      • Office Bookcases
      • Shop All Home Office
    • Entryway
      • Storage
      • Benches
      • Console Tables
      • Shop All Entryway
    • Custom Best-selling furniture Furniture Collections
      Shop All Furniture
  • Décor
    • Décor
      Best-selling décor E-Gift Cards Up to 50% off décor
    • Wall Décor & Mirrors
      • Wall Art
      • Mirrors
      • Clocks
      • Wall Accents
      • Hooks & Shelves
      • Shop All Wall Décor & Mirrors
    • Lighting
      • Floor Lamps
      • Table Lamps
      • Others
      • Shop All Lighting
    • Rugs
      • Area Rugs
      • Accent Rugs
      • Runners
      • Doormats
      • Shop All Rugs
    • Pillows & Textiles
      • Pillows
      • Throws
      • Bed Linens
      • Drapery Panels
      • Poufs
      • Shop All Pillows & Textiles
    • Home Accents
      • Decorative Accents
      • Vases & Planters
      • Blooms & Branches
      • Candles & Holders
      • Frames
      • Storage Baskets & Boxes
      • Coat Racks
      • Shop All Home Accents
    • Kitchen & Tabletop
      • Dinnerware
      • Glassware
      • Trays
      • Table Linens & Coasters
      • Kitchen Accents
      • Shop All Kitchen & Tabletop
    • Best-selling décor E-Gift Cards Up to 50% off décor
      Shop All Décor
  • Holiday
    • Holiday
    • Decorate Your Home
      • All Holiday
      • Trees & Tree Collars
      • Holiday Décor
      • Ornaments
      • Wreaths & Garland
      • Pillows & Throws
      • Shop All Decorate Your Home
    • Gift Guides
      • Best-selling gifts
      • Shop All Gift Guides
    • Shop All Holiday
    Holiday
    Decorate your home
    Holiday
    Best-selling gifts
  • Sale
    • Sale
    • Sale Furniture
      • All Sale Furniture
      • Living Room
      • Dining Room
      • Bedroom
      • Home Office
      • Entryway
      • Shop All Sale Furniture
    • Sale Décor
      • All Décor
      • Wall Décor & Mirrors
      • Lighting
      • Rugs
      • Home Accents
      • Pillows & Textiles
      • Kitchen & Tabletop
      • Shop All Sale Décor
    • Shop All Sale
    Sale
    Up to 50% Off Select Furniture
    Sale
    Up to 75% Off Select Décor
  • Shop The Look
    • Shop The Look
      Living Room Dining Room Bedroom Home Office
      Entryway Small Space Collaboration #RightAtHome
    • Living Room Dining Room Bedroom Home Office Entryway Small Space Collaboration #RightAtHome
      Shop All Shop The Look
    Shop The Look
    Living Room
    Shop The Look
    Dining Room
    Shop The Look
    #RightAtHome
  • Ideas & Advice
    • Ideas & Advice
      How to Measure Furniture Guide To Custom Find Your Fit Room Design Boards
      Right at home Room Planner Care Guides Pet Friendly Upholstery Augmented Reality Virtual Design Studio Safe Installation
    • How to Measure Furniture Guide To Custom Find Your Fit Room Design Boards Right at home Room Planner Care Guides Pet Friendly Upholstery Augmented Reality Virtual Design Studio Safe Installation
      Shop All Ideas & Advice
    Ideas & Advice
    Find Your Fit
    Ideas & Advice
    Room Design Board
    Ideas & Advice
    Reclaimed Materials & Sustainable Home Decor
| Français | English
  • New
  • Living
  • Dining
  • Bedroom
  • Decor
  • Wall Decor
Urban Barn
  • New
    • New
    • New Furniture
      • All Furniture
      • Living Room
      • Dining Room
      • Bedroom
      • Home Office
      • Entryway
      • Shop All New Furniture
    • New Décor
      • All Décor
      • Wall Décor & Mirrors
      • Lighting
      • Rugs
      • Pillows & Textiles
      • Home Accents
      • Kitchen & Tabletop
      • Shop All New Décor
    • Shop All New
    New
    Shop New Furniture
    New
    Shop New Décor
  • Furniture
    • Furniture
      Custom Best-selling furniture Furniture Collections
    • Living Room
      • Sofas & Sectionals
      • Accent Chairs
      • Ottomans & Benches
      • Coffee Tables
      • Console Tables
      • Side Tables
      • Bookcases & Storage
      • Shop All Living Room
    • Dining Room
      • Tables
      • Dining Chairs
      • Stools
      • Benches
      • Sideboards & Storage
      • Shop All Dining Room
    • Bedroom
      • Beds
      • Nightstands
      • Dressers & Chests
      • Benches
      • Bedroom Collections
      • Shop All Bedroom
    • Home Office
      • Desks
      • Chairs
      • Office Bookcases
      • Shop All Home Office
    • Entryway
      • Storage
      • Benches
      • Console Tables
      • Shop All Entryway
    • Custom Best-selling furniture Furniture Collections
      Shop All Furniture
  • Décor
    • Décor
      Best-selling décor E-Gift Cards Up to 50% off décor
    • Wall Décor & Mirrors
      • Wall Art
      • Mirrors
      • Clocks
      • Wall Accents
      • Hooks & Shelves
      • Shop All Wall Décor & Mirrors
    • Lighting
      • Floor Lamps
      • Table Lamps
      • Others
      • Shop All Lighting
    • Rugs
      • Area Rugs
      • Accent Rugs
      • Runners
      • Doormats
      • Shop All Rugs
    • Pillows & Textiles
      • Pillows
      • Throws
      • Bed Linens
      • Drapery Panels
      • Poufs
      • Shop All Pillows & Textiles
    • Home Accents
      • Decorative Accents
      • Vases & Planters
      • Blooms & Branches
      • Candles & Holders
      • Frames
      • Storage Baskets & Boxes
      • Coat Racks
      • Shop All Home Accents
    • Kitchen & Tabletop
      • Dinnerware
      • Glassware
      • Trays
      • Table Linens & Coasters
      • Kitchen Accents
      • Shop All Kitchen & Tabletop
    • Best-selling décor E-Gift Cards Up to 50% off décor
      Shop All Décor
  • Holiday
    • Holiday
    • Decorate Your Home
      • All Holiday
      • Trees & Tree Collars
      • Holiday Décor
      • Ornaments
      • Wreaths & Garland
      • Pillows & Throws
      • Shop All Decorate Your Home
    • Gift Guides
      • Best-selling gifts
      • Shop All Gift Guides
    • Shop All Holiday
    Holiday
    Decorate your home
    Holiday
    Best-selling gifts
  • Sale
    • Sale
    • Sale Furniture
      • All Sale Furniture
      • Living Room
      • Dining Room
      • Bedroom
      • Home Office
      • Entryway
      • Shop All Sale Furniture
    • Sale Décor
      • All Décor
      • Wall Décor & Mirrors
      • Lighting
      • Rugs
      • Home Accents
      • Pillows & Textiles
      • Kitchen & Tabletop
      • Shop All Sale Décor
    • Shop All Sale
    Sale
    Up to 50% Off Select Furniture
    Sale
    Up to 75% Off Select Décor
  • Shop The Look
    • Shop The Look
      Living Room Dining Room Bedroom Home Office
      Entryway Small Space Collaboration #RightAtHome
    • Living Room Dining Room Bedroom Home Office Entryway Small Space Collaboration #RightAtHome
      Shop All Shop The Look
    Shop The Look
    Living Room
    Shop The Look
    Dining Room
    Shop The Look
    #RightAtHome
  • Ideas & Advice
    • Ideas & Advice
      How to Measure Furniture Guide To Custom Find Your Fit Room Design Boards
      Right at home Room Planner Care Guides Pet Friendly Upholstery Augmented Reality Virtual Design Studio Safe Installation
    • How to Measure Furniture Guide To Custom Find Your Fit Room Design Boards Right at home Room Planner Care Guides Pet Friendly Upholstery Augmented Reality Virtual Design Studio Safe Installation
      Shop All Ideas & Advice
    Ideas & Advice
    Find Your Fit
    Ideas & Advice
    Room Design Board
    Ideas & Advice
    Reclaimed Materials & Sustainable Home Decor
  • Account
    • Customer Service

    • Contact Form
  • Hi, !
  • Account Settings
  • Orders
  • Sign Out
Sign In Create Account
0 Cart 0
Right At Home Blog Celebrating Pride Month with Elly Ayling

Celebrating Pride Month with Elly Ayling

Celebrating Pride Month with Elly Ayling

Celebrating Pride Month with Elly Ayling

In celebration of Pride Month, Urban Barn is proud to partner with Canadian illustrator Elly Ayling on a colourful collaboration that celebrates LGBTQ2S+ uniqueness and reminds us to embrace our individuality. Read on to learn more about Elly and her inspirations behind this limited-edition design.

As a member of the LGBTQ2S+ community, what does “pride” mean to you?

I think pride means finding a home in your body, soul, and relationships with others. It’s an active practice of accepting that no part of you is “wrong” for being brought into a world that maybe wasn’t ready for you yet. Pride is knowing you deserve the best and surrounding yourself with friends, family, and life choices that’ll help you get there.

What was your initial inspiration behind your design for our Pride Month t-shirts?

I was really tied to this idea of something evergreen, growing over time. It’s a meaningful component of queer culture—we continue to demonstrate our importance in the world regardless of the struggle we face. As a community, we carry only what serves us and persevere.

What influences did you look to during your design process?

My influence was Canada’s design history and queer resilience. Canada is known for heritage-honouring art that celebrates style as an important part of identity. That can be seen in a myriad of ways, but I saw it most in the timelessness of Indigenous art, like beadwork, and the eternal stylishness of Canadian modernism. When these overlap, we get the Heirloom!

Collaboration Elly Ayling
Collaboration Elly Ayling
Collaboration Elly Ayling

Tell us about the symbolism behind the Heirloom.

The Heirloom is a set of stacked shapes that are fully customizable, forming a friendship bracelet block with infinite combinations. Each shape strengthens the rest, much like how queer, trans and nonbinary people add excellence to our communities.

How do you see the Heirloom evolving over time?

This piece is capable of being renewed as the LGBTQ2S+ community grows: per year, per decade; based on a new flag or an old one. As Canada’s culture enriches and strengthens in the face of adversity, the Heirloom can too.

Tell us a little about your journey into the world of art.

I really feel like art found its way to me, rather than I to it! My mom was very good at encouraging my love of being “crafty” as a kid—beadwork, friendship bracelets, collage, knitting—but I was less interested in illustration; it took patience I didn’t have quite yet. In high school, I was obsessed with photography and media arts, which led me to a college program in graphic design. That really culminated all my interests; I could take all these little bits and bobs I loved growing up and turn them into something beautiful and fun. In that program, I fell in love with illustration and learned how soothing it was to let yourself make things without an agenda.

Where do you draw inspiration for your illustrations from?

I think a lot of my drive to create cool stuff comes from cheering on others; it puts a fire under my butt to try to keep up! Part of being an artist is contributing to the celebration of art itself and using it to fuel your own ideas. It’s a mix of envy and joy. A thrill!

What do you love about being part of the LGBTQ2S+ community in Canada?

I love being queer in Canada because I feel at home no matter where I go. I don’t have to announce who I am and seek acceptance or forgiveness for it. Being queer deepens my relationships and connection with others. I know who I am and no one can question it.

That being said…

I’m a cisgender white woman in a fairly progressive city! That’s a hugely privileged identity as a queer person. There are thousands of LGBTQ2S+ people who don’t have that luxury, and they need our support to feel seen and heard. I think Canada still has a long way to go in terms of LGBTQ2S+ acceptance, but I’ll keep fighting for equity til we’re there.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

My favourite piece of advice is to “never be just one thing”. I think people have so much weight tied to their perceived persona—they’re not to blame, social media is. If someone is an accountant, they worry their whole “thing” is being an accountant. They’re defined by a single thing they do to keep afloat. Sure, if accounting is your passion, that works—but if you have interests outside of your career, cherish and tend to them.

Speaking of passions, what are some of yours?

A lot of my growth in art has been tied to experimentation outside of art! I love to knit, to bake, to curate - these things centre me. By being open to new experiences, you can carry a shocking amount of skills back to what you love most.

What would you tell someone just starting out in the industry?

My best advice is to make art with no expectations of its outcome! A lot of young artists worry about not having a style or enough skill to accomplish the effect they want. Let that fear free you from expectations! Try a whole bunch of styles. Post them all. Draw TV characters or still lifes or nature. Your style comes to you naturally when you iterate until a piece feels “done”. Make a whole pile of work and be proud of growth instead of perfection.

How would you describe your art style?

I’m jokingly referred to as “sweet and spicy” by my partner. I like bright, happy colour palettes and symmetry mashed up with cats, bats, and girls serving side-eye. Create your own harmony!

Who are your favourite LGBTQ2S+ owned brands or artists to follow?

Ooooh, good Q! Kindred & Hellbound, Charlyne Bataille, Paddy Leung, Willow Pill, Adrian Martin, Christopher John Rogers, Official Rebrand, and Studio Peachy are my absolute faves!

null

Thanks to your incredible support, our Pride 2022 T-Shirts are officially sold out! All net proceeds will be donated to the Covenant House's programs and services for LGBTQ2S+ youth.

Learn More
Back to Top

Get social

Facebook Footer Social Image TikTok Social Image Twitter Footer Social Image Instagram Footer Social Image Youtube Footer Social Image Pinterest Footer Social Image
Back to Top
 
    • Store iconVirtual Design Studio
    • Gift card iconGift Cards
    • Crown iconTrade Program
    • Crown iconmyurbanbarn
    About Us
    • Our Story
    • Give Back
    • In the Press
    • Careers
    • Right at Home Blog

    Customer Service
    • Contact Us
    • FAQs
    • Shipping & Delivery
    • Returns & Exchanges
    • Track Your Order
    • Where We Ship

    Get Help
    • Live chat iconLive Chat
    • Email iconContact Form

©2023 Urban Barn

Get urban insider updates

Get social

Facebook Footer Social Image TikTok Social Image Twitter Footer Social Image Instagram Footer Social Image Youtube Footer Social Image Pinterest Footer Social Image

    Legal

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility
©2023 Urban Barn