Naughty Crayons

Artwork by artist Kristin Simmons of crayons in a column organized by color against a blue canvas. The crayon colors are renamed to reflect explicit r-rated sexual positions and idioms.

DIMENSIONS: 15.5(h) x 12.5(w) x 2.5(d)
MEDIUM: Mixed Media on Canvas
YEAR: 2021

“Naughty Crayons” depicts a series of different colored crayons, each deceptively innocent until audiences read the descriptions. Simmons has swapped out their typical childlike names with playfully sexy titles, from Missionary Mango to Lap Dance Lavender. 

There is often shame accompanying topics around sex, especially in the US, so Simmons intentionally chose one of the most child-like symbols of expression (the crayola crayon) in order to illustrate a vocabulary around sex that is positive, funny and non judgemental. It’s a way to illustrate (pun INTENDED) that everyone has fantasies, in her own words:

“We should be celebrating conversations around sex, not discouraging them. Expression of one’s sexuality is a key part of identity and mental health, which are such enormous crises today.”

Provocative and in-your-face, the juxtapositions elicit humor, discomfort and excitement—fitting for an artist whose works have long critiqued capitalist desires, pop sensibilities and the overly PC sanitization of society. By pioneering a boldly feminist and sex-positive approach, Simmons is breaking barriers in the male-dominated art world by continuing to create works that encourage conversations around taboo topics. 

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