Anja Matthes

Photographer/Videographer/Visual Storyteller

www.anjamatthes.com

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Location: Brooklyn, NY

Nationality: European

Biography: Anja Matthes is an award winning Luxembourgian/German born documentary photographer, videographer and visual storyteller based in New York City. She completed her studies at and received certificates in cinematography and documentary filmmaking... MORE

News Spotlight

@NewYorkerPhoto Instagram Takeover

anja matthes

Jun 25, 2019

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzGhyeBA6nx/ I am excited to share some photographs from my ongoing project documenting New York City’s Kiki ballroom scene, a community organized by L.G.B.T.Q.+ youth of color that provides an alternative to high-risk behaviors, as well as a support system for a group that is frequently a target of violence, racism, and homophobia. Today there are approximately thirteen active Kiki “houses” in New York City. A house often functions as a surrogate family for youth who were abandoned by their parents, collectively empowering and educating its members.

Like many marginalized communities, members of New York’s Kiki ballroom scene have created their own lingo, which some sociologists describe as “gaybonics.” With that in mind, the captions will also reflect the Kiki community’s unique language—slang and phrases members use to express themselves, and to express love for one another.

New Yorker Photo on Instagram: “Here, at a rented Airbnb, Poppie, a member of the House of Juicy Couture takes a break to share a tender moment with his then boyfriend.…”
1,589 Likes, 20 Comments - New Yorker Photo (@newyorkerphoto) on Instagram: “Here, at a rented Airbnb, Poppie, a member of the House of Juicy Couture takes a break to share a…”

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Anja Matthes

Also by Anja Matthes —

on NYT: Inside "˜Visions of Pride,' a Photo Exhibition on the High Line

From the start, Black Lives Matter has been about LGBTQ lives

NYC Protest

WHALER-Little Whale (Official Music Video)

In the Kiki Ballroom Scene, Queer Kids of Color Can Be Themselves

Anja Matthes Featured on W Magazine

Visura Instagram Takeover

LGBTQ youth in NYC

West Indian Carnival in Brooklyn

LGBTQ youth in NYC

Album cover Karsh Kale - six degrees records

Grace Jones at the Afro Punk fest Brooklyn,NY

The Year of the Legends-25th annual Latex Ball

Rayko Gallery presents Kiki Ballroom-The House of Bangy Cunts celebrating Gay Pride

Anja Matthes Launches New Website

ARTIST TALK | Anja Matthes: