Elizabeth Achanta
When you first stumble upon SmallKims.gay, it’s like walking into a world where joy, authenticity, and unapologetic self-love reign supreme. This vibrant online shop, owned by Kim Pinkberry, a Pansexual, Polyamorous, ADHD-driven artist from St. Paul, Minnesota, is more than just an e-commerce site — it’s a beacon of positivity and representation for marginalized communities.
Kim, who identifies as half-Vietnamese and shares their life with two beloved rescue cats named Quinoa and Nirvana, channels their boundless creativity into crafting unique, meaningful pieces. From handmade mugs to clay magnets, stickers, hair clips, and digital prints, everything Kim creates reflects their passion for uplifting and validating marginalized identities.
At the heart of SmallKims.gay lies a powerful mission. As Kim explains, “I want my artwork to help marginalized people feel seen, loved, and appreciated! I tend to focus on fat positivity, Queer pride, and female sexuality.” Kim's art, bold and unapologetically affirming, seeks to challenge societal narratives and foster positive experiences.
Kim elaborates, “There is so much hate in this world towards Queer people, fat people, etc., and I just want these people to feel seen, heard, and loved for who they are. Not only is plain representation important, but POSITIVE representation can be so impactful on the way your brain thinks of yourself. I want to provide genuine love and appreciation and validation where there is so very little of it for these communities.”
Running a small business comes with its share of challenges, especially when navigating personal health conditions. For Kim, balancing self-care with productivity has been a journey of perseverance. “Balancing self-care with my health conditions/disabilities vs. having enough capacity left to work on the business has been the hardest part,” Kim shares. “My ADHD symptoms, chronic fatigue, and migraines have been the biggest struggle, but as I am slowly getting these figured out and managed better and better, it’s been easier to accomplish what I want in my business.”
Through resilience and self-compassion, Kim continues to grow their business while honoring their own well-being. Their advice to others? “I would tell myself that it’s okay if things take longer than I want them to, and to keep making things even if I don’t like how they turn out. Everything is a lesson and an opportunity for growth, and there is NO timeline.”
One of Kim’s proudest accomplishments is their linocut print collection featuring local Queer individuals feeling confident in their disabled and/or fat bodies. This project, which celebrates empowerment and self-love, has left a lasting impact. “The feedback I got (and still get when I have the prints available at in-person shows) from the models and other community members is one of my favorite things to think about when I feel discouraged,” Kim recalls. “I just get lots of messages like, ‘Thank you for doing this, I feel so different about who I am and how I feel about my body now, and I just can’t thank you enough.’”
This collection epitomizes SmallKims.gay’s mission: to inspire confidence and self-love in communities that rarely see themselves positively represented.
For Kim, choosing a .gay domain was a no-brainer. “Being part of the Queer community and wanting to serve them with the art that I make, it just made sense to me. I want it to be clear what I’m about, and the .gay domain makes it clear for me,” Kim explains. The domain’s commitment to donating a portion of profits to LGBTQIA+ organizations resonated deeply with Kim’s values. “I also saw that it donated some of the profits to an organization supporting Gay rights which is another thing I want to be able to do with the money I make from my business, so it felt in line with my values in every way.”
As SmallKims.gay continues to flourish, Kim remains steadfast in their commitment to creating art that celebrates marginalized identities. Their work reminds us of the transformative power of representation and the joy that comes from seeing oneself reflected in the world.
Whether you’re looking for a handmade mug that makes you smile or a digital print that fills your heart with pride, SmallKims.gay offers more than just art. It offers a community, a celebration, and a vision for a world where everyone feels seen, loved, and appreciated.
Visit SmallKims.gay to explore Kim’s work and support their incredible mission.
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