SHIELDED HEARTS
A Fusion of Art and Activism
A project by Sam Dawood in collaboration with Lydia Reeves. In creating detailed body casts of trans-masculine people, we transform them into sculptural, wearable art photographed by trans and gender non-conforming creatives.
These casts capture intimate truths - the texture of skin and scars, the story of body hair and transformation, the lived metaphor of armour and binders. Each final artwork will be auctioned, with 100% of proceeds going to vital trans charities selected by our models. This is more than art; it’s a tangible act of community care, declaring - these bodies are beautiful, resilient, and worthy of celebration.
This project is about visibility rooted in strength and dignity. It’s capturing our bodies not as subjects to be examined, but as histories to be honoured - the skin, the scars, the hair, the resilience. We are creating the representation we didn’t have: for trans-masc people, for Black and brown bodies, for those who don’t feel trans enough. Getting cast is a vulnerable experience, an intimate tracing of ourselves made safe with care. Now, these wearable forms of art become our shields; they hold our stories of survival, transition, and self-acceptance. At a critical time, this work is a powerful act of claiming space. It shows we are not alone, and that the strength and beauty of our community can directly support us.
“For a long time, before I had top surgery, putting a binder on every day felt like armour for me. Getting plastered up brought back memories of feeling constricted but also safe/held and it’s something that I think other people who wear binders, or have worn them, might relate to. That dichotomy of relying on this item of clothing to feel more yourself while it also physically restricts you, makes you less agile and makes it harder to breathe. This was usually the case with armour too, but it could also save your life.”
“I accepted a long time ago that my body has always been and will always be in transition, not just from one gender to another but across ages, different expressions, sizes, shapes, and weight. Plaster casting felt like a unique chance to capture my body in time. A chance to be still and present with a body that I am often just moving through.”
“Increased trans representation in 2026 feels especially important, not just for visibility, but for representation rooted in strength and dignity. Projects like this help shift the narrative, presenting trans-masculine bodies not as something to be examined or debated, but as something to be honoured and celebrated.”
“Right now, there’s more hostility and scrutiny directed at trans people than ever. Our bodies and lives are constantly being debated and politicised. That’s why this project feels so important, now. It’s a way of resisting through art. It shows trans bodies as complex, real, and beautiful, and it offers a different narrative at a time when that feels so important.”
VHS and Photography by Declan Kelly
Photography by Ezekial, Styling by Mia Maxwell
