Renna Mae is the kind of person I moved to New York City to be around. Emotionally passionate. Socially fearless. Truly one of a kind, in both appearance and mind. And dedicated, above all else, to the pursuit of art in her life, with one foot planted firmly in the city’s folkloric bohemian past, and the other twisted forever forward, unflinching and devoid of sentiment. Asking, always, “What’s next?”
The first time I saw a photo of Renna, I thought—not unkindly—that she looked like a walking Alice Neel painting. All angles and attitude, unabashedly herself at all costs, with a wellspring of unspoken stories bubbling behind her dark eyes. By that time, she’d already had a decades-long career as— in her words—a “professional exhibitionist”, posing for artists, porn producers, and anyone else in need of her particular brand of nakedness.
I do a lot of video work for drag and burlesque performers. As part of that, I spend a good amount of time making sure that people look as glamorous—or at least as physically flattering—as possible.
With my photography, I wanted to make something that was the opposite of that. Where the focus is as clear and unflinching as the lens will allow. And where beauty exists because of all the raw details, and because of a person’s perceived imperfections.
I can’t imagine what it’s like to feel graceful. So I’m captivated by people who, as physical performers, are able to create entire mini-operas within their movements and expressions, and who, as humans, seem to thrive on being seen and present in their bodies. My professional background is in stage lighting. And so my natural response, when confronted with such visceral drama, is to point a light at it. Bring attention to the moment, meet its energy, and escalate it visually to the height of something epic.
If you met Renna in person, I don’t think anyone would describe her as particularly confrontational or extreme. And yet, simply by existing in front of us as an unashamed, unaugmented woman “of a certain age”, I think Renna forces people to confront their own deep-seated preconceptions about beauty, sexuality, and the reality of aging. In an era of digital face filters and casual plastic surgery, her gut-level refusal to be anyone but herself—and her audacity at choosing to do so on-camera, naked—makes her a polarizing figure without even trying.
At first, I was drawn to Renna’s unique physicality and the novelty of her age. What I wasn’t prepared for was the natural depth of emotion and personality that she brings to everything she touches. Photographing Renna in action is like jamming with a great drummer, or dancing with a partner you love. I showed up ready to photograph an interesting body, and walked away feeling like I’d just had the pleasure of interacting one of the most fascinating people in New York City. I hope that the people who see our photos feel the same.