Three artists from New Mexico who identify as lesbian or queer create work that is informed by their life experiences. Their works show no literal explanations but depict symbolic resolutions. Who they are and what they have experienced have had a strong impact on their work. Through specific materials and distinct color palettes they share certain elements of their identities and experiences with viewers. It is the viewer's task to try and discover what the works are about and what each artist has communicated. This paper focuses on the lives and works of three contemporary artists from New Mexico. Two of these artists, Harmony Hammond and Helen Cozza, identify themselves as lesbian, and another, Erin Forrest, identifies herself as queer. Recognizing how an artist's identity can be symbolically or metaphorically conveyed in his or her work can help all students better understand how their own experience of life can inform their art. The author presents an art project that allows high school students to explore the works of the three contemporary artists, gaining insights into how life experiences frame artmaking choices and statements about their differences as well as their shared humanity. (Contains 5 figures and 3 endnotes.)