The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own. I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before. In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find. Please DO NOT send me your work. I do not take submissions.
Today’s featured artist: Brian Kuhlmann
I Am TRANSGENDER
I started photographing transgender individuals in 2015, and the goal has always been to normalize their existence and humanize their stories. Since that time, it is no secret that transgender people have bore the brunt of extreme political whiplash in this country, as well as increasing violence and hostility in the streets. These photographs celebrate freedom of expression, and stand as an act of defiance against attempts to vilify and erase gender nonconformity in the public sphere.
I believe that knowing how we or others identify is important, as are the stories of how we’ve arrived at that place. Before any shutter is clicked, I listen to their stories. We meet, we talk, and get to know each other. What strikes me the most about their stories is the level of abuse simply for being who they are–everything from being disowned, being forced to live on the street, sexual abuse, and even broken bones from assault. And sometimes there’s stories of families coming together, of bonds strengthening, and what it means to discover support.
The resulting portraits are simple and direct, classic yet modern. Choosing to eliminate the background and photograph each person on white forces us to look at them, at who they are and, beyond the ideas we may have, ultimately recognize that we are all humans.
To see more of this project, click here
APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world. She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry fordecades. After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999. Follow her at @SuzanneSease. Instagram