Becoming Kade

When I took my first self-portraits at 10 years old, I wasn’t thinking about archiving my life. I was simply playing dress-up and exploring my new obsession with photography. Looking back, these young self-portraits stand apart from the rest of my childhood images. Alone with a tripod and a remote, I could be whoever I wanted to be, free from rules or judgment. These portraits didn’t just capture my image; they captured my inner self.

For years, I thought many of these portraits were lost. When I rediscovered them, I was overwhelmed with nostalgia and admiration for my younger self—their courage and creativity in preserving those moments. It was then that I realized, consciously or not, I had spent the last 15 years building a personal archive of my journey through self-expression and gender exploration.

What began as an unconscious act has now evolved into a deliberate, lifelong practice. Through this series, I document not just who I am but who I am becoming—each image is a step closer to embodying the truest version of myself. I plan to continue this series through the rest of my life

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To Be Held: a Celebration of Trans-Masc Community through Art

The Canvas 3.0 at the Westfield World Trade Center