Queer Immigrants

Asafe Ghalib photographs individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community, including friends and fellow-artists. Working mostly in black-and-white and sepia photography, Ghalib’s images recall newspaper and historical photographs both from old books and magazines as well as traditional family photos—a type of portraiture that has been present since the invention of photography.

In embracing these parameters, the artist aims to confront societal expectations and stereotypes, building a powerful platform for the queer community to reclaim agency, as well as inspiring others to question the status quo.

“I mostly photograph individuals by themselves in order to allow their personality to emerge in full bloom,” says Ghalib. “I want to communicate the person’s ideas in their rawest, most beautiful and empowered form.”