From Katy Cowan’s article featuring Lissa Rivera’s series “Beautiful Boy”:
‘Beautiful Boy’ is an ongoing project that began as a confession between two friends. On the subway one evening, New York photographer Lissa Rivera’s friend shared that he had worn women’s clothing almost exclusively in college, but after graduation struggled to navigate a world that seemed both newly accepting and yet inherently reviling of male displays of femininity.
Lissa thought that photography could provide a space for him to experiment with his identity outside of isolation. She explains: “Taking the first pictures was an emotional experience. I connected with my friend’s vulnerability. I wanted to make sure that the images were not a compromise for either of us, and we engaged in many discussions. Both of us have long, fraught relationships with femininity that have fundamentally shaped who we are.