Tai Ericson, an artist based in Vermont, U.S.A is repurposing books from the Harry Potter collection to create a series of portraits that honour the lives of murdered trans people, as a form a protest at a time when the trans community is facing increasing hostility. The impactful pieces are created by deconstructing the pages of the books before putting them back together to form artworks depicting trans people who have lost their lives at the hands of transphobia.
The choice to use J.K. Rowling’s works is a reflection of the author’s outspoken anti-trans views. Rowling reportedly helped to fund the recent Supreme Court ruling in the UK which excludes trans women from being defined under the equality act as women, potentially also excluding them from countless public spaces if the proposed guidance is approved. What’s more, the author has also used her wealth – earned through sales of Harry Potter and franchised properties – to launch a legal fund for those fighting against trans lives in sex-based cases.
Tai’s website explains: “The author of the HP books is wildly transphobic and has contributed purposefully and relentlessly to a culture that demonizes and dehumanizes trans people.
“The portraits destroy her work, replacing it with a memorial to someone that lost their life to the culture fostered by the author.
“Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Trans rights are human rights.”
The project began earlier this year, and the materials Tai uses come from books he bought when the series was first published that have been hanging around for over 20 years. Like many readers, Tai struggled with what to do with the books upon discovering Rowling’s anti-trans views before finding this new outlet. A few people have also sent their own copies to be used as part of the art series, and others can follow suit if they wish to by DMing the artist on Instagram.
Tai understands that the project won’t change Rowling’s views nor those of the people who agree with her, “But if even one trans kid out there sees this and is reminded that there are people in the world that have their back then this is achieving something far more important,” he says in a video shared to social media.
The art pieces have so far captured the lives of two trans people. The first finished piece was Ra’Lasia Wright, a 25-year-old transgender woman from Minneapolis, who was shot and killed in December 2024. She was the 31st reported trans person killed in the U.S. in 2024, and the third in the state of Minneapolis alone.
The second portrait being created by Tai Ericson is Sam Nordquist, a transgender man from Minnesota, also aged just 25, who was allegedly killed by a group of seven people. As of October, Sam’s case was in the preliminary stages of being tried in court.
