Google Rolls Out Pride Chrome Browser Themes Designed By LGBTQ+ Artists

Composite image via Google

When was the last time you updated your browser skin? With your hybrid-work setup evolving to accommodate your habits, it’s time to give your desktop candy a well-needed makeover. Look no further than these Google Chrome themes, which aren’t only refreshingly vibrant but also embedded with a message for inclusivity and love.

In the spirit of Pride Month, Chrome enlisted five artists from the LGBTQ+ community to design browser themes inspired by their personal Pride experiences. These comprise Derek Abella, Carlos Apont, Sofie Birkin, Ohni Lisle, Tallulah Fontaine, whose diverse artworks vastly differ from one another because each journey is unique. Google then blended each background into the Chrome interface to match users’ tab colors and ensure a seamless browsing experience.

The wallpapers can be downloaded for the Chrome browser and on Chromebooks. Most of the themes are out, but a couple of artworks will only be released later this month. To install one for your Chrome browser, head here, and then click on the skin you like and select ‘add to Chrome’.

“This collection is a testament to the expansiveness of the LGBTQ+ community, which continues to become more vibrant and diverse,” explains Chrome product manager Nick Kim Sexton.

Preview five vivid Pride themes, along with descriptions by their artists.

Derek Abella: “This theme was inspired by the special feeling of finding someone who sees life in the same way. Oftentimes, people in our community feel misunderstood and grow to be observers, but we’re never totally alone in this world.” Image via Google

Carlos Aponte: “All [of my] pieces are autobiographical; I can only speak from my own experiences. This image is about a person who survived the hardships of life and still kept his spiritual integrity.” Image via Google

Sofie Birkin: “The story goes that Britomartis leaped into fishermen’s nets to escape the unwanted attention of King Minos, and Artemis rescued her from drowning and turned her into a goddess and a hunting companion. They’re two of the more unambiguously queer characters in Greek mythology.” Image via Google

Ohni Lisle: “LGBT+ people often go from hating their inability to fit into relishing it as a beautiful character-building experience. The joy of self-exploration and presentation is reflected in this theme—someone completely letting their freak flag fly.” Image via Google

Tallulah Fontaine: “I wanted to create a scene that reflected the place I grew up—the prairies—and the idea of finding love in unexpected places. Cowboys come up so often in my work because I grew up surrounded with so much of that imagery and country music.” Image via Google

[via Android Police and Google, images by various artists for Google]