The Pride Collection

About the Pride Collection

Hi, I'm Timothy Wayne Sutton.

I rarely talk about the personal inspirations behind my work because I want people to have their own conversations with it and to develop their own relationships with the pieces that speak to them. This collection, however, is deeply personal to me, and I'd like to share why.

I came of age in the 1980s and 1990s. It was a difficult time to be gay in America. During those years, the Rainbow Flag became a powerful symbol to me of identity, acceptance, hope, and belonging. These were things I longed to find in the world, and they are also the values I learned I must try to offer to others.

I think of this as an ongoing collection because each year I create a new design inspired by Pride because I want to acknowledge the courage it takes to claim one's place in the world and the profound joy of feeling completely at home in your own skin.

While this work grows from my experience as a gay man, I don't believe the longing to belong is uniquely LGBTQIA+. Every one of us wants to feel welcomed, respected, appreciated, and loved. Every one of us hopes to find places where we can simply be ourselves.

The rainbow has carried many meanings for many people throughout history. Mine is just one of them. Whether these pieces speak to you because of Pride, because of their color, or simply because they bring joy to your home, I hope you'll find your own way into this work—and perhaps discover a little of your own story reflected there.