By Terra Teets
Daniel Shaffer, a Junior majoring in visual arts with a studio concentration, is the Black Cat Market’s featured artist for the month of February. The Black Cat Market is co-owned by Chatham alumna Indigo Baloch, who served as the Minor Bird’s editor in chief in 2017. The cat café features both new and established visual artists every month.
I talked to Daniel about the work he’s currently showing in the space, which is even more striking in real life! (Photos courtesy of Indigo Baloch)
Could you describe your show? What are some themes that run throughout the pieces you’re showing?
The theme for most of the paintings in this show was queer domesticity. I wanted them to be snapshots of queer people in their everyday lives.
What makes your work fit at the Black Cat Market?
I think my work fits at the Black Cat Market because it’s a space run by women that’s very queer friendly and really tries to give local artists a platform as best as they can. I also think just aesthetically, the colors in these pieces and the cartoonish style were a nice contrast against the wood furniture and more natural aspects of the space.
I know you’re interested in how queer identity intersects with art and creativity. How does this come across in the work you’re showing?
Because queer people are so used to being private and hiding a lot of their life from the rest of the world, I’m really interested in showing how we interact with each other in more intimate spaces, and what those spaces look like.
How does Pittsburgh influence your work? Are there any other significant influences?
Being in Pittsburgh has influenced my work a lot because there aren’t as many spaces for queer people where I’m from, and it’s a lot less diverse. Here I get to be around people that I never thought I would see in real life, so I have a lot more to draw from and be inspired by. Street art, cartoons, and trans artists like Amos Mac and Mars Hobrecker also have a big influence on my work.
What are your future plans? In what direction(s) do you wish to keep creating?
I want to explore this idea a lot more and see how far I can take it. I feel like I’m getting better technically the longer I’m in school so I want to do more detailed pieces in the future and have these people that I care about be represented in the best way possible. I feel like this show is more of a start, and I’m ready to see what direction it goes.
Daniel’s work will be showing through the rest of February. The Black Cat Market is open 11-6 weekdays and 10-4 on weekends.