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You Brought Your Own Light, a New Book of Transgender Portraits

A book of transgender portraiture showcasing the work of award-winning photographer Allie Crewe has been published by Axis Projects Publishing this July 2020.

You Brought Your Own Light is produced by Alan J Ward and brings together 26 of Allie’s revealing Transgender portraits, including the image of Grace, a doctor, which won the BJP Portrait of Britain 2019.

A series of 12 of the portraits were initially exhibited in Manchester at an event sponsored by the National Transgender Charity, Sparkle.

transgender

You Brought Your Own Light now brings these portraits together in a book, continuing Allie’s journey as a political artist exploring social issues of the day using photography to give a voice to those often denied power; becoming a campaigner by giving visibility to other people’s narratives.

Her photographic portraiture recognises that there is nothing linear, defined or straightforward about femininity, or what it means to be a woman, in the 21st century.

You Brought Your Own Light is the first published book of Allie’s work and has been created with the support of Arts Council England.

transgender

Allie Crewe says: “Stories of transformation fascinate me, especially when they are women’s stories. I love to photograph teenagers, trans women, women surviving illness or escaping violent marriages. It is not just the physical changes that draw me but how our internal, emotional lives change too.

“To take a person’s image is, in part, self portrait. I am representing women, exploring their narratives and interweaving them with my own.”

Her work has been praised by high profile industry publications including Magnum and LensCulture. Both were impressed by the authenticity of Allie’s portraits of transgender people, referencing their poignant and classical composition and noting the empathetic nature of each image.

Allie has worked with her friend and collaborator Olivia Fisher, who has written the words in the book.

Allie’s new work includes a series of portraits to help change the narrative of domestic violence in conjunction with Safe Lives.

Allie was also commissioned by the NHS for Still I Rise, which celebrated Black History month, and Unseen Community, a project commissioned by Proud 2b Parents exploring the LGBTQ+ parenting narrative.

The book can be purchased at https://www.allie-crewe.uk/store

(All images ©Allie Crewe)
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