From Aline Smithson’s article concerning Lissa Rivera’s series “Beautiful Boy”:
When I first encountered Lissa Rivera’s photograph, ‘Motel, Virginia,’ I was a bit distracted. I was initially drawn to her brilliant use of color, the red lips, the pose, and cinematic lighting that referenced movie making. Upon further examination, I realized there was a lot more going on under the sheets, and as I began to understand the intent of this exploration, the project rose up with a richness that comes with the perfect combination of beauty, storytelling, authenticity, and truth. Lissa’s ability to take us through her subject’s journey of self-examination and gender exploration using dress and feminine ideals reflects her definition of what she sees as feminine. The work is fascinating, unsettling, and lovely–regardless of the subject or intent, these are wonderful portraits.