Tell-Him Trevor

Acrylic, paper dolls in paper sleeve, 2025

These dolls were created as a playful commentary on how gaze and perception can restrict self-expression. I photographed and interviewed my friend Trevor, who has a vibrant sense of retro style but often feels judged and criticized for it. Trevor told me that he often dresses in his preferred style only around certain people, letting the societal norms dictate how he chooses to express himself. To play off that, I photographed him and his clothing, boxing him up as a paper doll that people can dress up themselves according to their own norms and standards. Projecting their wants and prejudices onto him by physically choosing what he can and cannot wear, I call attention to how prejudice and perception guide how we express ourselves.