Tuesday, July 7, 2026
ArtistsAustralia & NZBearsInterviews

Canberra’s Yiannis Nikodellis on Art and Identity

Luka Musicki

Yiannis is the creator of Sweet Creams, and he is painting Canberra Queer with bold lines. Let’s learn about Yiannis life. [Special thanks to Danny Corvini for mentioning to get in touch with Yiannis for an interview.]

Yiannis was born in Batemans Bay, NSW, and he came out after moving to Canberra in 2009, when he was 19. He was always drawing and writing music growing up, and once he finished school, he really wanted to pursue my hobbies more seriously. He did a freelance illustration course and started a band, and that was sort of the start of him balancing the two things he loved (while also working a regular day job). Shortly after turning 20, he got roped into DJing by a friend who had a regular spot at Bar 32 that they were vacating, and he ended up DJing there on and off for about 15 years.

He began working on digital music once he got his hands on his first MacBook, which he eventually started releasing under the producer/artist name ‘YOKELUST’, and was illustrating personal and commissioned work under the visual artist name ‘ELTHROWUP’. 

Once he developed a platform, he wanted to ensure his art and music were queer and political at their core, which led to some really cool opportunities. At the start of 2024, he launched the brand ‘SWEET CREAM’ after a few years of planning, which is represented by 12 mascot characters, each inspired by different aspects of sexual health and queer culture.

Luka Musicki (L.M.): Welcome to the interview on Bear World Magazine platform, Yiannis. I was happy that you were willing to be interviewed on a platform to talk about your life (and that you are no longer DJing, which is sad news). This was based on the research and recommendations from Canberrans. I hope you are ready for some questions. Have you been interviewed previously?

Yiannis Nikodellis (Y.N.): I have indeed. I did a small interview for a magazine years ago that featured some of my illustration work, and I was interviewed on Joy.FM and Radio Electronica, back when I was DJing often and more recently with STUN magazine, after releasing a disco/house album at the end of 2023, called ‘UNABASHED’.

L.M.: So, tell us about your life growing up queer in the nation’s capital (Canberra). What was your life like, and when did you come out in the queer community? Is your background Greek-Australian or Greek-Indigenous? And is it influenced in your artworks, or is it another cultural approach, like an art form?

Y.N.: I grew up in Batemans Bay until I was about 18, moved around a bit after that and then landed in Canberra in 2009. I came out in 2009 at 19. Both of my parents were born in Australia, but my mum is Greek, both of her parents are from Greece and lived in Australia for many years, so I had a little bit of the Greek and the Australian influence growing up. My parents separated when I was young, and I grew up with my dad in a very Christian community.

L.M.: In terms of community design work, you contributed your illustration work to some of Canberra’s most significant LGBTIQ+ public projects. You were one of twelve LGBTIQ+ illustrators commissioned by graphic designer Joanne Leong to illustrate the ACT Government’s Capital of Equality Second Action Plan (2022–2023) — a landmark document guiding Canberra’s journey toward being the most inclusive city in Australia for LGBTIQ+ people. In 2025, you designed the “Cover Yourself in Canberra” campaign for Meridian ACT — Canberra’s community-controlled, peer-led LGBTIQ+ health and social support organisation — for Sexual Health Month. The campaign featured Canberra landmarks and was turned into a public art cycling tour route through the city. How did you get into visual art, like in school, and how did you develop it as a career?

Y.N.: I was completely obsessed with anime and traditional animation as a kid, which inspired me to design my own characters and draw my own little short comics centred around them. I wanted to be an animator; however, I learned I could tell my own stories, which eventually changed my goals. Even when coming up with my own characters, I’ve always tried to keep the focus of my art centred on queer bodies and stories, and I’ve been offered some really wonderful opportunities to work with organisations involved in LGBT+ projects, which still blows my mind. It’s been an honour to be considered for these projects and a privilege to present my work. 

L.M.: Now that you are a successful visual artist in Canberra, you run a creative project or store called Sweet Cream CBR (sweetcreamcbr.com), which you describe as a place for your creative output. Your YouTube channel features blog-style content under the banner “Yiannis Nikodellis – Canberra artist – BLOG”, with a warm, casual tone that shows you as a community-engaged local creative rather than a gallery-oriented fine artist. Does this sound accurate? How was Sweet Cream CBR brought to life? And why did you do it? Requests or sick of the mainstream cookie-cutter t-shirt designs?

Y.N.: I’d say that is pretty accurate. I never formally studied art (outside of a freelance illustration course – which had more of a practical business approach), so I’ve never really been interested in the fine art world or pushing my art into gallery spaces. I have been involved in a number of exhibitions over the years with other queer artists, though those were more community-focused exhibitions. Regarding the brand SWEET CREAM, I’m a huge fan of printed t-shirts and of how people often make a statement with their wardrobe choices. SWEET CREAM was an idea I came up with several years ago, maybe like 2016, but I never really developed the idea further until I revisited it again when I was illustrating my webcomic Hark Z in 2022ish and wanted an in-world brand I could deck my characters out in. From there, I worked on developing the aesthetics of the mascots, and it all just came to life. My aim was to create mascots that could be adapted into ‘streetwear’ and merchandise, leaning heavily into rubber-hose designs like Felix the Cat, Mickey Mouse, and the ‘mascots on everything’ of Sanrio and Pokémon.

L.M.: And you are also a graffiti/street artist, under the “El Throw Up” tag on your Instagram, which is also aligned to Sweet Cream, right? And your branding suggests a visual aesthetic rooted in street art, bold graphic design, and pop culture — colourful, direct, and community-facing. Does this sound accurate?

Y.N.: Unfortunately, I’ve never really had the chance to properly dive into making street art, though I’ve always had tons of love for that world. My art practice was mostly lead pencil and watercolour paint until I switched to digital art a few years back. ELTHROWUP was the visual artist name I went under until last year, when I decided to put everything under my name (Yiannis Nikodellis) going forward. I also just released an album under my name (Yiannis Nikodellis – KNIGHT VS FAIRY soundtrack) in January, instead of under YOKELUST, as I was finding it hard to manage all the different artist names and wanted to align everything.

L.M.: Canberra markets itself as the “Capital of Equality.” As a queer person who actually lives here, do you think the city lives up to that title? 

Y.N.: I do. It was pretty incredible to be involved in things like Yes! Fest a few years back and various other queer projects, and feel comfortable living out and proud since moving here.

L.M.: Canberra’s queer scene is smaller and more intimate than Sydney or Melbourne — what are the unique things that make it special, and what are the frustrations?

Y.N.: It is a shame that the queer scene in Canberra has diminished a bit over the years in terms of the club culture and nightlife that used to be more common. Even though the nightlife here doesn’t have much of a queer presence these days, there are still fantastic community-led daytime events, and the community is still strong and very active.

L.M.: Your work has been commissioned for the city’s biggest LGBTIQ+ institutions. Do you feel a responsibility as a visible queer artist in a small city like Canberra?

Y.N.: I do for sure. Even in a smaller city with a pretty small platform, I do feel a responsibility to continue making art that feels important and stay connected with the community.

L.M.: Where do you want your art to be in five years — still in Canberra, or do you have bigger ambitions?

Y.N.: I don’t have any plans to leave Canberra in the near future, so I will likely still be kicking around town, hopefully SWEET CREAM will still be going and maybe will have a wider reach than it currently does, and I’ll continue chipping away at the webcomic and making queer art on the side.

L.M.: How did you come to identify with the bear community specifically, and what does that identity mean to you within the broader Canberra queer scene?

Y.N.: Honestly, I don’t know if I’ve ever identified myself as a bear, though I guess I’ve always been aligned with that part of the queer community, hahaha. 

L.M.: Does your bear identity show up in your art at all, or are those two parts of your life relatively separate?

Y.N.: It’s definitely been something that has shown up in my work over the years. I released a song a few years back called ‘Big Belly Boy’ which celebrates thicker men, and I’ve performed at events that were held for the bear community and DJ’d at Big Thick Energy in Sydney for World Pride 2023.

L.M.: What would you want a queer young person in Canberra — maybe someone who’s just come out and doesn’t know where to start — to know?

Y.N.: I think it’s important to stay kind. Be kind to others and kind to yourself. It can take some time, but engage with the community, build a support network, and be proud of who you are.

L.M.: What do you do in your spare time (when you are not busy with your projects)? Hobbies? Travelling?

Y.N.: I wish I travelled more hahaha. My hobbies are my projects. I work full-time in the government, so most of my spare time is spent making art and working on my projects. Outside of work and projects, though, I watch a lot of anime and comedy, play Dungeons and Dragons with friends and try to get out of the house when I can. I don’t party too much these days, so it’s mostly a quiet but busy life.

L.M.: Would you say being a bear has helped your career? Is your audience primarily bears for work and life?

Y.N.: There have been lots of bears who have supported my art over the years, and I try to promote body positivity when I draw and write and incorporate all body types in my character designs, etc.

L.M.: Is there any advice that you would give someone (like a bear) who would be interested in doing artworks, and what is involved?

Y.N.: I’d just say go for it! I think the world could do with more art of thick-bodied people, represented in a sexy way! Make art and put aside time to do the things that bring you joy and connect you with your community. 

L.M.: What are your career goals for the future?

Y.N.: My only goal really is to just continue working on the things I love.

L.M.: Is there anything else that you would like to add in that I have missed?

Y.N.: Nothing I can think of.

L.M.: Thank you, Yiannis, for your time to do the interview. Now it is time for quick-fire questions.

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Luka Musicki

Luka is the Deputy Editor for Australian content for Bear World Magazine, part of Gray Jones Media. Luka is producing interviews with Australian and international bears, producing Australian city guides and interesting fun articles. His vision is to create a vibrant and supportive platform that celebrates the diverse spectrum of human bodies and experiences. His mission is to foster a community where individuals feel empowered to embrace their authentic selves, share their stories, and recognise the bear beauty in vulnerability and feeling great pride in themselves. Luka is also a resident writer for Konnect with Data (an Australian Data company).