Artistic Expressions of Queer and Disability Values: A Multimedia Mixed-Methods Approach to Studying Identity
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Overview
Overview
This website contains a project summary and the main findings of Maximillian Soares Miehlstein's dissertation study on how queer and/or disabled individuals express their identity through art. The dissertation was conducted from a Cultural Psychology perspective with a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach. This project included five phases:
Phase 1: Recruitment of artists, collection of art pieces, and focus groups with artists
Phase 2: Focus groups with non-artists
Phase 3: Art show to showcase the art pieces
Phase 4: Survey validation of primary themes
Phase 5: Dissemination of findings with meaningful authorship inclusion [conference presentations below & manuscripts in progress!]
The ultimate goal of this project was to amplify the experience of queer and disabled individuals, giving them a platform to express their identity. Through the art and discussing lived experiences with both artists and non-artists, the primary hypothesis that expressions of queer and disability identity can convey underlying values was supported. Feel free to click through the Background Information, Methodology, and Results Summary tabs of this website to learn more about the full project, or go straight to the Art Pieces to view each of the 25 art pieces with their corresponding titles and artist statements. You can also view selected conference presentations on this Home page below.
If you have any questions, please email Max at maxi2468@hawaii.edu. Thank you for viewing!
About Max
About Max
Aloha!
I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, which has made it extra special to pursue each of my degree milestones here at home. I now primarily utilize qualitative research methods to investigate the lived experiences of individuals with minoritized identities. My dissertation explored how queer and disability identity expression is navigated and internalized using a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and a multimedia photovoice method, which is what you can read more about here on this website. The project centered art and creative identity expression, and culminated in a community art show. Through my projects, I try to advance decolonial and inclusive scholarship by centering the voices of those often marginalized in traditional psychological research. Through my family, my A.A. in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, my B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies and Psychology, this dissertation, and my Certificate in Disability Studies, I am influenced heavily by the disability community. Being queer and disabled has provided me with a unique worldview that I am grateful I got to incorporate into my graduate studies. Outside of academia, I enjoy my four cats (who regularly are incorporated into my lectures), dying my hair as many colors as possible, and traveling. Mahalo for your interest in this project!
Public Presentations
Public Presentations
Feel free to skim through the selected conference presentations below! One talk and one poster were selected from the research team presenting at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) and PacRim.
Paper Publications - coming soon!
Paper Publications - coming soon!
The full dissertation manuscript will be published through UH Manoa ProQuest and linked here when available (est. December 2026).
Manuscripts in preparation:
Soares Miehlstein, M., Press, J., & Kessler, M. (in prep, exp. 2027). Personal and professional implications of CBPR: Advice for future projects.
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