Portfolio
Transmasculine Portraits
A series of portraits illustrating the beauty and joy of transmasculinity. If you would like to be a part of this project, you can find more information here. Click on each portrait to enlarge!
Adrian, he/they
"I want to be sexy, I want to be seen and looked at. I think that transmasculine people are the most beautiful and sexy people in the world. Erotic vision is a part of our existence that should not be ignored, because it brings joy, awareness and happiness. Self-love is at the heart of my artistic interest. I've been taking testosterone for 4 years, I love to see how my body has changed and how my desire has transformed along with it. At the moment I'm not interested in top surgery or any other reassignment surgery. I love my body like never before, and I think showing it is an immense act of love, for the community and for myself. with this submission I want to remind that there is no one way to be a transmasc person, and to remind all the transmasc people out there that our body is perfect in every way, as long as we like it that way. We are free to love ourselves and feel sexy in every way. "
Forrest Rose, he/him
"Over the waves of nausea and deep discomfort that had me constantly at war with my own flesh, the feelings that defined my transition were the heady rush of emotion that swept me off my feet when I cut off all my hair and the indescribable joy when I was called sir by a stranger for the first time in my life. The passing of time brought with it the security in my own identity, the certainty of my reality when the man in the mirror looked back at me with a roughness to his jaw and hair above his lip—and with that, an entire world was opened to me—the possibility of reconnecting with the femininity I had distanced myself from for so long.
The pursuit of euphoria means stepping out of my comfort zone and letting myself do things I've never even considered in the past half-decade—such as put on pink eye shadow and stand in the shower wearing a mesh crop top and looking like I should be somewhere in the pages of a barbie magazine. Once upon a time I would have been unable to picture myself comfortable enough to dress hyper-feminine again, let alone willingly invite the world to see, but today I can run my fingers over the scars on my chest and proudly own the fact that my masculinity is not defined by the clothing on my body or the pigment on my face but by the undeniable truth that I have always been a man."
Sariel, they/them
"I find being transgender a reality of excruciating beauty, for what is more exquisite than to look inward and tend to oneself as if caring for a garden, slowly shifting the earth and pruning the stalks so that all flowers may bloom freely next spring? So that the air may fill our lungs a little easier?
Being trans is living as a heart-stirring work of art. Having the courage to peer inwards, deep into the abyss, and come back with a better understanding of one’s self in all of its nuanced hues.
We are worthy of love, and gentleness, and desire and we deserve to enjoy the bliss of a happy life among those who not merely tolerate, but celebrate our existence. "
Mik, he/him
"I wasn't always sure if I want bottom surgery, I was scared. About the surgeries itself, the complications that can happen, all the pain, the way my penis turns out and sadly I mostly was scared about what other people will think about it and me.
I needed years full of bottom dysphoria and self-hate to realize that I need bottom surgery and have to think about myself only. I needed to realize that otherwise, I will end up dead. I don't want to die, I want to live. By now, I went through four surgeries, two emergency surgeries and two times getting stitches, more surgeries sill coming. It's hard going through all this pain. My immune system is broken, my mental health is also critical because I went too fast with the surgeries, I was too impatient. I'll need to wait a few more months than usual to continue my sugeries. But even with all the stress and pain, being able to have bottom surgery, has saved my life. Being myself means being happy and free.
My fellow trans brothers, sisters and siblings, I know, times are hard, especially for trans people in dangerous environments. Stay strong, you can do it. I stand with you, I feel your pain, I see you, I hear you and I love you.
Love, Mik."
Aspen James, he/they/it
"This was my first time going swimming shirtless in my parent’s backyard (when they weren’t home). Also one of the first times I had genuinely smiled like that in years. The amount of euphoria I felt in that moment was so overwhelming that I actually cried a few minutes after this photo was taken by my amazingly supportive cousin.
I have had a lot of challenges caused by unsupportive parents and am still working to get on my feet, but I have the support of my amazing boyfriend and chosen family of friends that mean so much more to me than blood ever could. I am currently almost 2 years on T and the happiest I have been in my entire life. My transition is the biggest act of self love I have ever shown myself, and I am so proud of how far I’ve come in my journey and can’t wait to see what the future holds for me!"
Devian Maside, he/they
"I got this picture taken during a weekend I spent with my partner in a cabin in the woods. In a remote location, we decided to create our own queer paradise, spending the days as naked as the nature that surrounded us.
On the last night, they gifted me a packer, on the last morning they took these pictures. I remember never feeling so loved, it was like I was being gifted freedom and safety. At the time I was drunk on gender euphoria, so took me ages to fully understand what that present truly meant: that with them, I will always be safe; that for my queer family, my euphoria is a priority."
