Hello! My name’s Persephone van der Waard, and welcome to my website! I’m a trans-woman erotic artist, sex worker, academic Gothicist/independent researcher and self-published author. I used to focus on videogame fan art (e.g., Metroid, Final Fantasy and The Legend of Zelda); now I focus on sex positivity in the Gothic mode. I’m currently writing and illustrating a non-profit book series on sex positivity and the Gothic. Made in collaboration with other sex workers including my partner, Bay, the project is a planned four-volume set called Sex Positivity versus Sex Coercion, or Gothic Communism: Liberating Sex Workers under Capitalism through Iconoclastic Art.

As of 10/8/2023, my thesis volume is live; as of 12/14/2024, my manifesto volume is live! Simply go to my 1-page promo and pick up your own copies for free! While you’re there, you can also learn about the other volumes, project history and logo design/promo posters!

Update, 4/3/2024: For a cool, new extended preview of my upcoming monster volume, refer to my on-site promo series, the blogpost “Brace for Impact” (2024)! It’s novella-sized (over ~85,000 words, ~209 pages, ~139 images, and sixteen new exhibits) and was inspired by my friend and muse, Harmony Corrupted! To say thank you, I wrote her a special dedication.

For more information about this website’s history and inception, please refer to this old blog post.