Justin Nuyda’s “Pride” oil on canvas is now available in archival prints

Zamboanga City-based NGO, Mujer LGBT+, came up with a legal guidebook to empower the community with usefool tools that shed light on basic legal rights and protections of LGBTQ+ individuals in the Philippines. Donning the cover is Nuyda’s painting.

“Many LGBTQIA+ people, especially in our communities, experience discrimination but don’t know what to do or who to ask,” says Toni Gee Fernandez of Mujer LGBT+. “Legal information often feels too technical or out of reach. So we created this guidebook to make legal knowledge accessible and to help LGBTQIA+ individuals feel more confident in asserting their rights.”

Every copy of Pride archival print will be accompanied by a copy of the book. “We want to continue exploring how we can truly support the community by tapping legal guidance, policy and diplomacy,” Fernandez concludes.

Pride with Justice was published by Mujer LGBT+ in partnership with the British Embassy, TrustLaw, Thomson Reuters Foundation and SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan.

Nuyda’s 36 x 48 inches oil on canvas piece revisits the artist’s extroverted nature. Pride mirrors the artist’s external world, inspiring viewers to ponder concepts of identity, spirit, survival, and connectedness.

“My father has always been an ally of the LGBTQ+ community,” shares Ayni. “He embraced individuality and helmed spaces and concepts like the Hobbit House that made everyone feel safe and welcome.”

Also known by those close to him as an avid lepidopterist, the androgynous species of butterflies have constantly fascinated him. “To him, they embody something rare, wondrous, and worthy of being regarded with reverence. That same quiet strength pulses beneath Pride,” Ayni reflects.

Nuyda was known for thought-provoking pieces that compel conversation and discourse.

“Before falling ill in 2019, his work spanned a wide spectrum of outward concerns—reflecting a deep engagement with the world beyond himself,” Ayni says. “After his surgery, his gaze turned inward. Yet this introspective current had long been there, quietly pulsing through his practice since the 1960s—only now did it find fuller expression,” she continues.

Through Pride, Nuyda reconnected with his earthy subdued colours that were once apparent in his earlier works. Marking his return to his artistic rhythm, it also highlights his brief shift towards vibrant hues attributed largely to his eye cataract almost two decades ago.

“Once he had his eye surgery, he incorporated more earthy tones to his art again. Pride was the first time, however, that he brought all of these earthy colours in one artwork,” adds Ayni, also noting the artist’s distinctive technique with the brush where the colours appear luminous and alive.

For his daughter, Pride is a celebration of life and the countless ways we honour our own unique journeys. “The artwork itself will continue to stay with our family. But we wanted to share this piece with everyone and make Pride accessible to many. This is why we decided to finally release open edition archival prints of the artwork,” says Ayni. At the same time, this project coincides with Search Mindscape and the Nuyda estate’s objective of serving a higher purpose.

“The introduction of Pride as a series of prints endeavours to amplify a powerful statement and a compelling conversation that begs the question: How do you celebrate your most authentic self? Outside of Pride Month, how do we actively support the LGBTQIA+ community?” Ayni concludes.

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