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Kirby Stenger

@kirbayjo

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3030

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Photographer | CA
Therapeutic Portraiture

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Continuing with our talented lineup of visual artists for our @sf_artweek collaboration:

Kirby Stenger (@kirbayjo) • Selected portraits

In addition to their visual work, Kirby will be presenting an artist talk on Sunday, Jan 25 in conversation with Endzeit’s @zuberiffic

Visit us during San Francisco Art Week
Exhibition open January 23-25
Full schedule, location and details coming soon
Tickets on sale now - reach out via email at endzeitsf@gmail.com by @kirbayjo

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9 months ago

I think of the body as a kind of landscape—a place where all of our stories meet. Our bodies carry histories, expectations, memories, identities, and narratives that come from both within us and from the world around us.

I’m interested in what happens when we begin to question which of those stories actually belong to us, which we actually choose to embody.

What becomes possible when we explore narratives of identity through the act of witnessing with our own agency, through the experience of creating art with and through the self.

Come inquire with me. Book a shoot through the link in my bio.
We don’t have to go to Greece to do it, but we certainly should.

#PersonalProject
#mediumformat
#35mm taken in Milos, Greece by @kirbayjo

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a month ago

I used to be terrified of spiders. Like truly terrified. Full-on fight or flight. Then I moved into this apartment with one of my favorite coffee shops across the street and met this incredibly sweet, cool, curious human who suggested that we do a trade, a photoshoot for some tattoos. They told me they wanted to do a shoot with their tarantulas… it made me sweat just thinking about it. Something told me to trust it and I’m so glad I did. @dar.bs is obviously stunning but so self assured and wild and sweet and goes after all their wild desires including becoming an entomologist and tattoo artist. Also Darby unknowingly helped me get over my fear of spiders (well it’s much better at least) and now I can appreciate their sweet presence 🕷️ 🖤 thanks for sharing your world with me Darby.

#PersonalProject
#mediumformat
#35mm by @kirbayjo

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2 years ago

Whatever is here, belongs

🤲🏾🤍 @kirbayjo

#PersonalProject
#mediumformat
#35mm by @kirbayjo

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2 years ago

these photos are part of a deeply beautiful witnessing experience called Personal Project by the immaculate @kirbayjo⁠ (I highly recommend!) that I embarked on last October it truly set the tone for this body of work Poiesis - the act of being seen through Kirbys works has helped me give "what is" a chance to breathe and has unleashed paintings that explore a window through which to perceive the self.⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠ by @kirbayjo

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a month ago

Look at all this joy! Incredible amounts of joy and fun and celebration for this book! I’m so grateful that so many people gathered to celebrate the launch of my first photo book, Less Like a Fixed Point. This book is 225 pages of portraits from my photo practice, Personal Project, exploring existing and new narratives about identity and transformation.

I got to give and receive so many hugs, have a talk about my process and photo practice with my dear friend, collaborator and incredible moderator @ndnlifestylist. I got to publicly thank @justincardermoss for all of his beautiful design work and expertise on creating and publishing this book and for offering his perfect space @batherslibrary to have this party in. I got to have very meaningful conversations with many people on the importance of identity work, queerness, self-transformation and acceptance, and healing in community, and got the opportunity to get more of these books into your homes!

Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who came out, supported, bought books, and gave encouraging hugs and smiles. It all means the world to me.

You can still buy my book through the link in my bio, but not for long! There are only 40 left!!

Very special mentions to my cousin @le_lexxi for all their help and support setting this up, to @emmetgrahn @hannahfrancofineart and @_jennydotcalm_ for helping me ship the rest of the books out and to @goldenrulespirits for the delicious cocktail sponsorship.

#PersonalProject taken in Oakland, California by @kirbayjo

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4 months ago

I hate heights. this took everything in me. but the joy when I look at this and when I feel the splash of the water on me as I landed has lasted. these blue are washing each of my painting suspending me in mid air as a I trust that I will know what way to go when I land in the depths.⁠
⁠
film photos from a Personal Project shoot by the immaculate @kirbayjo⁠ ⁠I can't recommend this experience enough!⁠
⁠
⁠ by @kirbayjo

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a month ago

It’s happening! ✨

Less Like a Fixed Point is real. It’s here. And I honestly can’t quite put into words how much this moment means to me.

This book has been a long time in the making. It’s something I’ve carried, questioned, shaped, and reshaped. Getting to finally share it in person, together, feels really special.

I’ll be sharing a short artist talk in the evening, and mostly just really want to be in a room with you all, celebrating, connecting, holding this thing together.

If you’ve been part of this in any way, if you’ve supported, followed along, pre-ordered, or if you’re just curious, I would love to see you there. Truly.

Come through and celebrate with me!

April 30th, 6-8pm
Bathers Library
2310 Telegraph Ave
Oakland

Link in bio for detailed invite info taken in Oakland, California by @kirbayjo

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6 months ago

Words cannot express. I’m so proud, I’m so lucky, she’s so talented, she’s so perfect. Bestiiiiiieeeeee. ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 congrats on your stunning solo show @hannahfrancofineart you superstar. by @kirbayjo

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a month ago

There is something deeply tender about honoring a body for carrying you this far. Before change, before transition, before becoming more aligned with what lives inside, there is a moment to pause and witness what has already held so much.

This session with Skye was rooted in that kind of care. A recognition that loving your body and wanting it to evolve are not contradictions, but acts of honesty. Becoming more yourself sometimes means reshaping the physical form so it can better reflect the truth that has always been there.

They move through identity with fluidity and intention, embracing non-binary expression as something living and expansive. Self expression becomes both language and liberation, a way of claiming space in the world on one’s own terms.

I’m so grateful for their trust, their openness, and their willingness to be seen throughout this process. To witness someone in the midst of becoming is a profound gift.

@bicoastalista wrote a beautiful article about my process for the @sfstandard The link to read more is in my bio!

#PersonalProject
#mediumformat
#35mm taken in Oakland, California by @kirbayjo

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8 months ago

Today I sent the final version of my book off to press 🥹✨

After living with these images for so long, refining, sequencing, rewriting, re-seeing, it feels surreal to finally release it from my hands and into the world. This project has held so much tenderness, growth, and courage, and I cannot wait to hold the finished book in my hands and share it with all of you.

Thank you to everyone who has already pre-ordered and supported this work. It truly means more than I can say. There are still copies available, so if you’ve been thinking about it, now is the time to grab one before it lands in about a month.

And yes…we will absolutely be celebrating. Launch party details coming soon. I can’t wait to gather, hold this book together, and honor everyone who helped bring it to life. 💛

#PersonalProject
#mediumformat
#35mm taken in Oakland, California by @kirbayjo

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7 months ago

What a perfect night! What a perfect show and perfect opening @photo.saloon @happyhousesf. So honored to have a piece up amongst so much beautiful art. Thank you @catcoppenrath and @_nikkigreene_ for all your hard work and for bringing us all together. Ten points to whoever spots my doppelgänger. taken in San Francisco, California by @kirbayjo

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6 months ago