ARIEL COHEN, LMFT
I am a psychotherapist-artist living in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, where I mostly help children and families with special needs. My artwork primarily explores the relationship between identity and environment, and is largely inspired by imagery, stories, and themes I come across in my daily life.
Hitchin' A Ride To Sodom and Gomorrah
(Acrylic on Papier-Mâché, 5" x 36" x 5")
The title of this piece is a cheeky reference to the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah, which I find to be a ridiculous allegory about people “sinning,” whatever that means. I’m especially appalled by the idea that people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community are in some way being sinful by simply living their lives. The quote on the top of the piece, “Gotta give ‘em hope” is taken from a statement made by the late, great Harvey Milk. From 2009 to 2011, I lived in San Francisco and became friends with many people in the LGBTQ+ community, which gave me added perspective on the experiences and lives of people within those communities. The choice to make the piece a limousine comes from hearing stories about them leaving their homes for a better life, and my subsequent creative daydreaming/fantasizing about people leaving places that aren’t accepting of differences, maybe even piling into a big carpool of glamorous limousines and heading to a place of acceptance and true liberty.