Nature, Color, and Queer Kinship Light Up Fire Island’s Artful Summer

On Fire Island, art and identity intertwine in unexpected ways. The Fire Island Artist Residency (FIAR), the first U.S. program dedicated to LGBTQ+ artists, transforms a summer retreat into a creative haven. This year’s benefit auction, curated by collectors Rob and Eric Thomas-Suwall, highlights a vibrant mix of works by queer and women artists, echoing the residency’s spirit of community and celebration. Each piece in the auction tells a story of connection: Corydon Cowansage’s intimate color studies, Molly Greene’s surreal, nature-infused visions, and Sara Anstis’s pastel scenes of kinship all reflect the residency’s ethos of belonging. Robin F. Williams channels raw emotion through expressive drawing, while Michael Childress’s geometric abstractions evoke portals to new worlds—mirroring the transformative escape FIAR offers its artists. This annual gathering isn’t just about collecting art; it’s about nurturing a space where creative voices flourish and new narratives take root. On Fire Island, art becomes both a celebration and a lifeline. #FireIslandArtistResidency #QueerArt #ArtAuctions #Culture