Ky Smiley (b. 2002) is a Black transmasculine artist, mentor, and arts administrator happily based in Columbus, Ohio. His work speaks to his lived experience as a queer individual navigating his evolving relationships to masculinity, Blackness, and queerness, often through collaborative projects with his family members. By working closely with his loved ones, Ky seeks to expand the Black family photo album, challenging conventional representations of Black identity. His visual narratives center tenderness, vulnerability, and queerness, pushing for a more nuanced and inclusive portrayal of Black life. Ky is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography at The Ohio State University, with a minor in African American and African Studies.
Ky's work has been exhibited in a range of prestigious exhibitions across the globe, including the Kuala Lumpur International Photo Awards in Malaysia, and the Pride Photo Exhibition, which exhibited in the Netherlands, France, and Japan. Their photography has also been featured in multiple group exhibitions such as Aggregate II at Kent State University, Love Black at the Springfield Museum of Art, and Inhabitable Zone at Skylab Gallery. Ky's work has received numerous recognitions, including a Gold award in the portrait category of the College Photographer of the Year competition.
Last Century, Last Week: Holy Will
photography
2024
I have chosen to depict the space I dream of for Black girls when they go missing, because we all know they go missing. Here, they find a peace that is frequently denied to them in their everyday lives—a paradise that allows innocence to exist fully and without dispute. This is a world that does not suppress or neglect them, whether in childhood or as women. In this space, there is no better place to be than with each other, where shared realities turn to sanctuaries.
I draw much of my inspiration for visual choices from the words of songwriter, singer, and poet Jamila Woods. The title itself is borrowed from her song “Blk Girl Soldier,” which honors Black girls in our history who, despite facing numerous challenges, confront injustices every day. The full line, “Look at what they did to my sisters, last century last week—” aims to convey the sense that the violence they have endured, both past and present, is happening all at once. This line underscores that these are not isolated incidents but part of a systemic issue.
In a Garden of Our Own: Antwan
photography
2023
Photos from this series explore the spaces Black men consider to be their sanctuaries. In this highlighting of worlds, I aim to help create a future where they are gifted their flowers much sooner than at their funerals and with no stipulations. They exist and therefore, they receive. Thank you to all the men who have made, and will make, themselves visible and share with me their gardens. Your vulnerability is revolutionary.
I pull much of my inspiration for this project from the emphatic words of poet, writer, and performer Danez Smith. In their poem “Summer, Somewhere,” they envision a future where Black boys and men are granted their own alternative to heaven after death. The lines that compelled me to begin this work asks: “Do you know what it’s like to live on land who loves you back? No need for geography now, we safe everywhere. Point to whatever you please and call it church, home, or sweet love.” This phrasing evokes the questioning of what true paradise can mean for Black people, particularly men, and emphasizes how crucial both acknowledging and honoring those spaces is to ever feel truly safe in this life.
Ky & Kysaan
photography
2023
Ky & Kysaan (2023) is the second installment in a photographic series documenting the evolving relationship between my younger brother and me. This series began with a self-portrait we took together after my gender-affirming top surgery in September 2022. This particular photo captures us shirtless in a spare room at our father’s home, reflected in a mirror. For me, it reflects not just our images but the growth of understanding in our relationship as siblings. We are constantly navigating the complexities of queerness while establishing our bond as brothers.
I often recall the time spent under the care of my father and brother post-surgery. I observed their shared mannerisms and temperament closely, inciting in me a profound sense of comfort. This period allowed me to experience a newfound security with myself, deeply intertwined with the safety and love provided by my family who were still learning what all my journey as a trans masculine individual would look like.
In the long term, this project aims to expand the Black family photo album in a way that is blatantly queer and universally appreciated. I no longer desire to imagine masculinity as approachable and loving, but help solidify it as such in my own familial relationships. By capturing these intimate, but intentional, moments of connection and vulnerability, the photograph expands the conventional representations of Black families, embracing a reality where queerness is inherent and celebrated.
Ky Smiley is a Black trans-masculine artist and arts administrator in Columbus, Ohio. His work explores his experiences with masculinity, Blackness, and queerness, often through collaborations with family. Using analog photography and poetically informed storytelling, he creates intimate depictions of nostalgia, family, and the sacred spaces Black people inhabit or imagine.