Stories in blur. Symbols in bloom.

Each illustration features a blurred figure paired with a botanical symbol: green carnations, violets, lavender, and roses, each quietly nodding to a different queer identity or moment in time.

These were once hidden signals. Codes passed in silence. Now reimagined as dreamy, floral portraits. Introspective, ethereal, and quietly powerful.

20% of profits from this collection will be donated to akt, the only national charity dedicated to providing support for LGBTQ+ young people who are either at risk of homelessness or currently experiencing it.

Find out more about akt

Bloom No. 1:

The Carnation

Queer defiance in plain sight

In late 19th century England, green carnations became a quiet emblem of queer identity, most famously worn by Oscar Wilde and his circle.

A single bloom, tucked into a buttonhole, was a gesture of subtle rebellion in a world that demanded silence.

This portrait reimagines that quiet defiance as something soft, surreal, and enduring.

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Bloom No. 2:

The Violet

Love letters and lilac days

In early 20th century literature and life, violets symbolised sapphic love.

Passed in poems, tucked into notes, or gifted between women who could not speak their affection aloud. Their petals held what words could not.

This piece honours those secret exchanges and the tenderness behind them.

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Bloom No. 3:

The Lavender

Blurred lines and quiet truths

Lavender has long been connected with queer identity, especially within bisexual history. Faded from visibility, misunderstood, but deeply rooted.

It’s a colour of in-between, of nuance, of holding space for more than one truth at once.

This portrait reflects that complexity in soft blur and bloom.

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Bloom No. 4:

The Rose

Strength in soft bloom

The rose has long symbolised beauty, transformation, and resilience; qualities deeply connected to the trans experience.

In queer history, it’s become a quiet emblem of identity, growth, and self-expression. This piece honours the strength within softness.

A quiet reminder to give them their roses, not just in memory, but in celebration.

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find out more about

our LGBTQ+ charity partnership

What is akt?

akt is the only national charity dedicated to providing support for LGBTQ+ young people who are either at risk of homelessness or currently experiencing it. 

Shockingly, statistics reveal that 24% of homeless individuals aged 16-25 identify as LGBTQ+

akt exists because they believe no young person should bemade homeless because of who they are.

Find out more at www.akt.org.uk

What kind of work does akt do?

akt support LGBTQ+ young people by providing routes into safe, affordable, long-term housing, as well as actions around employability, mental health, community building, youth engagement and healthcare.

How do WADI+WAVE support akt?

With 'Portraits in Bloom', WADI+WAVE has pledged to donate 20% of all profits made from sales of limited edition artwork.

Launched during Pride Month in 2025, this is a long-term partnership and our pledge will apply to every sale made from the collection.