Draft:Pessima

Pessima is an annual Magazine based in Milan, Italy focused on Transgender and Non Binary Artists. Founded in 2021 as an Artist collective for the Exhibition Euphoria - Oltre il Binarismo, it quickly developed into different fields such as Contemporary Art, Design, Music and Fashion, leading to the decision to evolve into a Magazine that would highlight all of its projects and artists involved.

Mission
Pessima was born in 2021 from Simona Coltello and Marte Gastaldello to support the growth and creation of Trans* and Non Binary projects. The aim of the project is the creation of a network in which it becomes possible to support, both economically and artistically, emergent Trans* artists in a state of mutual growth. To our knowledge, Pessima is the first fully Trans* run, independent Art Magazine in Italy with only Trans* contributions, and one of the first in the world. It was born mostly as a response to the lack of such editorial projects, created by our community for our community. Having experienced the difficulties of existing as a young Trans* person in the art world in Italy, Simona and Marte decided to unite their remaining strengths to create a platform that could function as a safe space for subjectivities that could be facing discrimination elsewhere. The name “Pessima” reminds of a derogatory semantic field ("Very Bad, The Worst" in Italian Language, linked to what the public opinion often associate to the Trans* community. The mission is to reclam it, overturning the social paradigm and replacing hate with the pride that comes with self-determination.

2021–2023
Pessima originally created its website as a platform to publish and distribute indipendent Publications and Artist's Books from emerging transgender creatives and its members.

In Autumn 2022, Simona and Marte decided to make an original product, and make a book to summarize and archive all the artists and project involved in one year of collaborations. It soon evolved into a prototype of the Magazine taking the name "Vol.0", getting reprinted in various format and sizing, and involving its first foreign international artist, Anthr0morph.

2023–Present
Given the praise of Vol.0, the team greenlighted the next issue, and expanded the team with new contributors such as Editors, Graphic designers, Photographers, Fashion Stylists and Art Directors. Pessima "Vol.1" succeeded into producing its first original contents and Photo shoots, and involving sixteen artists from all over the world. The release was held at Bim Milano on the 17th December 2023, featuring the Art Exhibition Devonian Mater of Filippo B. Chilelli, the Movie Screening of "Eternidade" of Aun Helden, and world premiere of Indie Videogame "Bloodborne Kart" from Lilith Walther.

Since early 2024, Pessima is at work to release "Vol.2" with the aim to fully produce all of its content, photo shoots and Editorials.