17 Photos of the Trans Experience by Mariette Pathy Allen

Mariette Pathy Allen has photographed the transgender community for nearly 50 years.

Allen, who photographs the transgender, genderfluid, and gender variant communities, will be featured in a new exhibition in New York by Culture Lab LIC called “Breaking Boundaries: 50 Years of Images”along with a separate exhibition called "Breaking More Boundaries" featuring Zackary Drucker, Jess T. Dugan, and other artists inspired by Allen and her work.

“Through her artistic practice, she has been a pioneering force in gender consciousness, contributing to numerous cultural and academic publications about gender variance and lecturing worldwide,” a press release about the exhibitions states.

The exhibitions, running from June 1 to July 30, are curated by Orestes Gonzalez and Jesse Egner.

“The importance of this exhibition in this retrograde, evil political climate, can’t be exaggerated,” Allen said in a press release. “We hope that by presenting transgender and non-binary people as relatable, caring, and creative, we can help to dispel the misinformation and fear of gender and sexual non-conforming people. I am very grateful to the Culture Lab LIC’s Plaxall Gallery for giving me the opportunity to have this retrospective of some of my work on gender variance.”

In 1978 Allen met a trans woman, Vicky West, at Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Since then she’s been involved in trans rights organizing and photographing trans and gender nonconforming people across the U.S. — with some images from Cuba, Burma, and Thailand.

She is also the author of four books: Transformations: Crossdressers and Those Who Love Them (1989), The Gender Frontier (2004), TransCuba (2014), and Transcendents: Spirit Mediums in Burma and Thailand (2017).

Allen has presented to countless groups around the country and has consulted for films. Her work has been displayed internationally. Her work is being archived by Duke University's Rare Book and Manuscripts Library and the Sallie Bingham Center for Women's Studies, according to a press release.

Below are 17 of the many works in the exhibition.

All photos by Mariette Pathy Allen

Chrysis, a Veteran, with her partner’s daughter, Nicole, 1987 

Valerie, at the end of a long glamor session, 1983

Monique in her room, Queens, NY, 2002 

Carrie being made up for a house ball, Harlem, 1984 

John, Seattle, 2021 

Sunday morning during a drag ball, Harlem, 1984 

Prem, a transgender woman spirit medium, 2014

Malu with her parents and sister, in front of their home, Cienfuegos, Cuba 2016