An artist has used the Harry Potter books to make portraits of transgender women who have been murdered. 

Artist Tai Ericson, who lives in the US state of Vermont, began deconstructing the books to create the artworks in protest at JK Rowling’s views on trans people.

The Human Rights Campaign tracked the deaths of at least 32 trans and gender-expansive people who were victims of violence in 2024. 

Ericson started the project this year and his website says: “Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Trans rights are human rights.”

One of the figures represented is Ra’Lasia Wright, a Black Latina trans women of Puerto Rican descent, who was shot and killed in Minneapolis in December 2024. She was 25. A print of the portrait is available to buy, with 20 per cent of proceeds going to Advocates for Trans Equality, not-for-profit organisation based in New York.

@pinknews Vermont-based artist Tai Ericson is deconstructing ‘Harry Potter’ books to create portraits of murd3red transgender people, in response to JK Rowling’s trans views .One of the figures represented in the artworks is Ra’Lasia Wright, a 25-year-old Black Latina transgender woman of Puerto Rican descent, sh0t and k1lled in Minneapolis in December 2024. Ericson’s website says: “The portraits destroy [JK Rowling’s] work, replacing it with a memorial to someone who lost their life to the culture fostered by the author. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Trans rights are human rights.” #harrypotter #JKRowling #transgender #artist #transrights ♬ Harry's Wondrous World (Theme from Harry Potter) – John Williams & Synchron Stage Orchestra & Wizarding World

In August, Chris Columbus, who directed two of the Harry Potter film adaptations, branded Rowling’s views on the trans community “very sad” and “unfortunate”.

Columbus, who also directed Home Alone and Mrs Doubtfire, said: “I like to separate the artist from the art, I think that’s important to do. It’s unfortunate, what’s happened. I certainly don’t agree with what she’s talking about. It’s just sad, very sad.”

Rowling’s views have been well-documented since she began expressing “gender-critical” beliefs publicly in 2019.

Some of the younger stars of the films have distanced themselves from Rowling since 2020. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint all declared that “trans women are women” in the days following the publication of the author’s “TERF Wars” essay and accompanying tweets.

In March 2024, former Harry Potter star Miriam Margoyles said: “I worry about [adult] Harry Potter fans. They should be over that by now. It was 25 years ago and it’s for children… but they get stuck in it.”

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