Anja Matthes

Photographer/Videographer/Visual Storyteller

www.anjamatthes.com

Portraiture

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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

In the Kiki ballroom scene, Bia...e.  ©2020 Anja Matthes

In the Kiki ballroom scene, Bianca's categories are realness and face. She says: "As a transwoman, to be in the Kiki ballroom scene, to me means to be part of a family that accepts me for whom I am and what I bring to the table.
©2020 Anja Matthes

Icon Gia Love, an actress, acti...lroom scene. ©2021 Anja Matthes

Icon Gia Love, an actress, activist, and model is also Anja Matthes's gay mother in the Ballroom scene.
©2021 Anja Matthes

The legendary Kelly Louboutin.
©2022 Anja Matthes

Chilli is the East Coast father...xander Wang. ©2020 Anja Matthes

Chilli is the East Coast father of the Kiki ballroom house of Alexander Wang.
©2020 Anja Matthes

Little Rayray is being embraced...st New York. @2017 Anja Matthes

Little Rayray is being embraced by her loving uncle Michael, in East New York.
@2017 Anja Matthes

From An America Family: DaeDae’...ts children. ©2016 Anja Matthes

From An America Family: DaeDae’s sister Shanice dropped out of high school during her first pregnancy at 17 years old. She planned to return to high school, but became pregnant with her second child and still hasn’t returned. Only 40% of teen mothers finish high school. Shanice is in a lesbian relationship and decides that she wants children.
©2016 Anja Matthes

Tulip
©2020 Anja Matthes

Shanice
©2016 Anja Matthes

Poppie works as an escort. Here...bnb in NYC. @2016 Anja Matthes

Poppie works as an escort. Here with his boyfriend at an Airbnb in NYC.
@2016 Anja Matthes

Tulip
©2020 Anja Matthes

Bougie
© 2022 Anja Matthes

Robert Jamie Mason aka Silky 00...er Instagram ©2019 Anja Matthes

Robert Jamie Mason aka Silky 007 performs Vogue Fem at the Hetrick-Martin Institute’s Incantation Ball. In the Kiki scene, the naming convention “007” is used to indicate that a performer is a free agent, not affiliated with any one house. Robert has devoted his life to dance - in and out of the Kiki scene. He studies pre-professional dance at The Juilliard School.

The New Yorker Instagram
©2019 Anja Matthes

Caijun, a young transwoman disc...ene in 2019. ©2022 Anja Matthes

Caijun, a young transwoman discovered the Kiki ballroom scene in 2019.

©2022 Anja Matthes

Poppie poses for a photo shoot....work online. @2017 Anja Matthes

Poppie poses for a photo shoot. He will use the images to advertise his escorting services work online.
@2017 Anja Matthes

Tulip
©2020 Anja Matthes

DaeDae, was incarcerated in 201...alth issues. ©2015 Anja Matthes

DaeDae, was incarcerated in 2015. Once released he was struggling with mental health issues.
©2015 Anja Matthes

Miggi belongs to the Kiki ballr...se of Wang. © 2021 Anja Matthes

Miggi belongs to the Kiki ballroom House of Wang.
© 2021 Anja Matthes

Keetz, belongs to the Kiki ball... Louboutin. © 2021 Anja Matthes

Keetz, belongs to the Kiki ballroom House of Louboutin.
© 2021 Anja Matthes

Ciara
©2020 Anja Matthes

Hawaii late at night in Staten Island
@2015 Anja Matthes

Miggi belongs to the Kiki ballroom House of Wang.
© 2021 Anja Matthes

Backstage at the House of Pucci ball in NYC.
@2014

Twiggy Pucci Garcon (front) and...er Instagram @2014 Anja Matthes

Twiggy Pucci Garcon (front) and Jahlove get ready at the Rainbow Fashion show.

The New Yorker Instagram
@2014 Anja Matthes

From the American Family projec...ae’s mother) @2018 Anja Matthes

From the American Family project: Several of DaeDae’s siblings, nieces and nephews live with his mother, Tamara. “I was in and out of the system...You know, it gets harder, you get scared. I don’t know where the next meal is gonna come from. I gotta be a little hustle. Not illegal hustle, but I gotta be a little hustle and do things to make sure my family stays afloat. I think if I didn’t have them I wouldn’t be here no more. I’m living for myself, but I’m living more though for them. I like to see them grow. It’s fun, we have fun together. We cry together, we talk together, we laugh together.” Tamara (DaeDae’s mother)
@2018 Anja Matthes

Twiggy Pucci Garcon, overall ov... Album" @2014 Anja Matthes

Twiggy Pucci Garcon, overall overseer of the House of Garcon and Pose consultant. Many marginalized and at-risk groups like LGBTQ youth, can gain self-acceptance and confidence through the surrogate families formed in the Kiki community, and Twiggy Pucci Garcon has organized and advocated for LGBTQ youth with various collaborative organizations to create safe spaces for over nine years.

W Magazine "What the Kiki Ballroom Scene Looks Like Now: A Family Photo Album"
@2014 Anja Matthes

The makeup artist Suede Harris ...selves" @2014 Anja Matthes

The makeup artist Suede Harris walks in the Iconic House of Old Navy Ball in 2014. Each ball features different categories, with performers showing off their skills as dancers, artists, and costume designers. Here, Suede is walking in the category "Face," which is essentially a beauty competition. Preparing for the balls helped Suede hone his skills as a makeup artist. Since 2014, he has gone on to work for celebrities such as Missy Elliott. “I have a very deep love for making black women feel beautiful,” he says. “I’m a young black man, and was raised by black women. They are an inspiration.”
The Atlantic "In the Kiki Ballroom Scene, Queer Kids of Color Can Be Themselves"
@2014 Anja Matthes

Sky Flores
©2021 Anja Matthes

Halimah in Berlin
©2017 Anja Matthes

Garry
©2011 Anja Matthes

Poppie in a hotel shower is get... for a date. ©2016 Anja Matthes

Poppie in a hotel shower is getting ready for a date.
©2016 Anja Matthes

Members from the Kiki Ballroom ...ki Yearbook. ©2017 Anja Matthes

Members from the Kiki Ballroom House of Gabbana pose for a royal family portrait for the Kiki Yearbook.
©2017 Anja Matthes

Housemother Perry poses for the Kiki Yearbook.
©2017 Anja Matthes

Shae the goat poses for Beauty ...th Carolina. ©2017 Anja Matthes

Shae the goat poses for Beauty Con, FOMO Magazin in North Carolina.
©2017 Anja Matthes

DaeDae is the House Father of t...omelessness. ©2014 Anja Matthes

DaeDae is the House Father of the House of Bangy Cunts. DaeDae is able to effectively support his house members through their difficulties, having experienced his own share of problems with racism, homophobia, HIV/AIDS and homelessness.
©2014 Anja Matthes

Icon Vanity La Wise performs at...er Instagram ©2014 Anja Matthes

Icon Vanity La Wise performs at the House of Old Navy Ball in 2014.

The New Yorker Instagram
©2014 Anja Matthes

Ken belongs to the Imperial Haus of Hua Mulan.
@2022 Anja Matthes

Shy and Coran are under the tre...lroom love. ©2019 Anja Matthes

Shy and Coran are under the tree. Kiki Ballroom love.
©2019 Anja Matthes

When DaeDae was released from p...p in Harlem. ©2015 Anja Matthes

When DaeDae was released from prison he visited a barbershop in Harlem.
©2015 Anja Matthes

"Legendary Jorge Old Navy ...er Instagram ©2014 Anja Matthes

"Legendary Jorge Old Navy Milan, wearing his own design, is joined by the Iconic founder Neko Old Navy at the Old Navy Ball KiKi Nation Domination. Neko is the Founder of the Iconic House of Old Navy, and this category, called the ‘Grand March’ is an opportunity to theatrically" "showcase the members of the house as well as unveil newly initiated house members." "“It’s the moment of a lifetime to me,” said Neko. “My house isn’t the crowd favorite ... [so] Grand March to me is an opportunity for us to take back every moment that was taken from us. I don’t rush it, I don’t water it down. It’s full of emotion and authentic love for one another.”"
The New Yorker Instagram
©2014 Anja Matthes

Poppie poses for the camera.
©2017

Zay and Clement

The New Yorker Instagram
©2015 Anja Matthes

Members of the House of Martin ...ki Yearbook. ©2017 Anja Matthes

Members of the House of Martin Margiela pose for a family portrait for the Kiki Yearbook.
©2017 Anja Matthes

Chilli is the East Coast father of the House of Alexander Wang.
©2020 Anja Matthes

Members of the House of Bangy C... W Magazine ©2014 Anja Matthes

Members of the House of Bangy Cunts after their practice in East New York.
W Magazine
©2014 Anja Matthes

Legendary DaeDae, father of the.... W Magazine ©2014 Anja Matthes

Legendary DaeDae, father of the House of Bangy Cunts, with his brother Dutch Gotti. DaeDae is photographer Anja Matthes’ godson. He passed away a few years ago.

W Magazine
©2014 Anja Matthes

Keron Kyle is a vocalist.
©2022 Anja Matthes

DaeDae was released from prison... has become. ˙2015 Anja Matthes

DaeDae was released from prison in 2015. Looking out of his SRO shelter's window he talks about how scared he has become.
˙2015 Anja Matthes

Widow in Vrindavan, India
©2010 Anja Matthes

Shae the Goat for FOMO Magazine.
©2017 Anja Matthes

2016-08-21-IWMF-Mattels

Widower in Vrindavan, India
©2010 Anja Matthes

Jayden
©2018 Anja Matthes

From the project: An America fa...aking a nap. ©2017 Anja Matthes

From the project: An America family. Jada taking a nap.
©2017 Anja Matthes

Rose
©2014 Anja Matthes

Lil Isaiha's ballon
@2017 Anja Matthes

Ty and salt belong to the House of bangy Kunt.
©2014 Anja Matthes

Malik
©2018 Anja Matthes

Shy is getting a buzz from his ...st New York. ©2014 Anja Matthes

Shy is getting a buzz from his boyfriend DaeDae in their home in East New York.
©2014 Anja Matthes

Doc Carter
©2020 Anja Matthes

Founder RR Chanel and Queen Mot...ine ©2017 Anja Matthes

Founder RR Chanel and Queen Mother Brenda Soulja
Swerv Magazine
©2017 Anja Matthes

From the project an American Fa...st New York. ©2016 Anja Matthes

From the project an American Family. Michael holds his niece at her brother's baby shower in East New York.
©2016 Anja Matthes

Maya
©2022 Anja Matthes

Composer Karsh Kale
©2016 Anja Matthes

Poppie commentates the Legends ...ncarcerated. ©2015 Anja Matthes

Poppie commentates the Legends Ball, which honors activists and performers alike. Poppie was attacked with a boxcutter during a night out clubbing and his face is still healing. At Balls, commentators introduce performers and get the crowd excited. Poppie is currently incarcerated.
©2015 Anja Matthes

Milan
©2022 Anja Matthes

Icon Neicy Carter at the House ...The Atlantic ©2014 Anja Matthes

Icon Neicy Carter at the House of Old Navy Ball.
The Atlantic
©2014 Anja Matthes

Malik belongs to the Kiki ballr...l. ©2018 Anja Matthes

Malik belongs to the Kiki ballroom house of Mattel.
©2018 Anja Matthes

Musician Juri Member of the Cha...t in Berlin. ©2014 Anja Matthes

Musician Juri Member of the Charcoal Sunset in Berlin.
©2014 Anja Matthes

Thirdman founder Jean-Christoph...;copy;2018 for GQ Magazine (NL)

Thirdman founder Jean-Christophe Le Greves

©2018 for GQ Magazine (NL)

A widow in Rajasthan, India
©2012 Anja Matthes

A widower in Rajasthan, India
©2012 Anja Matthes

GIA, ©2021 Anja Matthes All Rights Reserved

Doc Carter is the NYC Prince of...no. ©2020 Anja Matthes

Doc Carter is the NYC Prince of the Haud of Marciano.
©2020 Anja Matthes

Jacques belongs to the House of...ver ©2018 Anja Matthes

Jacques belongs to the House of Juicy Couture.
Karsh Kale Album cover
©2018 Anja Matthes

From the project: An American F...st New york. ©2016 Anja Matthes

From the project: An American Family
Grandmother poses with her grandson at a baby shower, in East New york.

©2016 Anja Matthes

Keetz Louboutin Book cover: &am...ry is." by Rick Tucker

Keetz Louboutin

Book cover: "...And the category is." by Rick Tucker

From the project: An American F...nder moment. ©2016 Anja Matthes

From the project: An American Family
Jada and Shanice share a tender moment.
©2016 Anja Matthes

Maya
©2022 Anja Matthes

Member of the House of Bangy Kunt
©2014 Anja Matthes

Charmaine and Fabian Juicy walk... get married,” Charmaine says.

Charmaine and Fabian Juicy walk to City Hall in Manhattan. Today is their wedding day. Charmaine and Fabian both work hard to provide for their small family—she works as a hairstylist; he is an employee at the Parks Department. They take their son, Naadir, to weekly karate classes and make sure that he keeps up with his homework. Charmaine says their marriage helped alleviate her mother’s concerns about the risk and stigma of living as a transgender woman. “Before, she didn’t know it was possible for us to have normal lives, have kids, and get married,” Charmaine says.