Tom Kay
Artist Statement
I am a queer, analog photographer documenting the LGBTQ+ community of Portland, OR. Since picking up my camera in 2017 I have captured models, drag shows, the Portland ballroom scene, parties, and everyday queer life. I tend to shoot with what is available to me from thrifted cameras and expired film gifted by friends, to experimental film stocks and toy cameras. This has provided me with a lot of creativity and a variety of results.These photos are from an ongoing series taken at the monthly queer disco I shoot, Twirl. Twirl started in late 2018 and is held in North Portland at the World Famous Kenton Club. We survived a break in 2020 during the pandemic while we couldn't gather inside until we re-emerged in Summer 2021 with outdoor afternoon discos aka tea-parties. Eventually bringing the party back inside for October 2021. This is a collection of snapshots of my friends and family cultivated in this space.
Tom Kay | Portland, OR