Unseen

As a visual artist working with nudity and portraying women of different ages, I often encounter a recurring hesitation: whether or not to show the face. Many of the women I photograph are comfortable revealing their bodies — the texture of their skin, their curves, folds, scars — but only if their facial identity remains concealed. I respect this choice, even if I sometimes feel a deep desire to depict the person as a whole.

There seems to be an unspoken dichotomy many women are caught in: I can show either my face or my body, but rarely both. Because if I reveal both, then my body must be “perfect”: smooth, toned, thin, worthy of being associated with my name and identity. Otherwise, my face must remain unseen. This reflects deeply internalized patriarchal norms that continue to define a woman’s value through appearance, especially now, as the cult of thinness makes a powerful resurgence, driven by trends like the rise of Ozempic.

When the face is absent from the image, something shifts. The model is offered a space where performance is no longer required — where she can simply be, in the presence of her own body, her story, her vulnerability. It is not about invisibility, but about redefining the terms of visibility. In a world of constant exposure and compulsive self-revelation, perhaps anonymity can itself become a form of power — and of freedom.

This is an ongoing project. I continue to search for ways to create portraits on the subject’s own terms. What remains when the face is no longer visible? Can the body exist in its own right, not as a supporting element, but as the story itself?

It is not an absence — but a different kind of presence, rooted in gesture, in sensation, in traces: the way light touches the skin and the fabric gathers around the body. Through these fragments, I try to reclaim one’s identity on their terms — and offer alternative ways of seeing the human being.

Starykh was chosen by our Community Manager and Program Curator to participate in one of our Face-to-Face portfolio feedback sessions with our Guest Room Curator Jo. Trujillo Argüelles.

"This session was a turning point in clarifying my visual voice. I explored the depth of portraying women without showing their faces and received thoughtful, encouraging feedback. It affirmed that my sculptural, intuitive approach has artistic value and doesn't need to mimic documentary styles. I left with clarity, motivation, and a deeper trust in my own gaze."

- Arina's testimonial on her “Face-to-Face” Session