Melody Melamed is a Brooklyn-based photographer who explores themes of gender identity, sexuality, and the human experience through raw, contemporary portraiture. She holds a BFA from UCLA and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts (SVA). Her powerful, often painterly-inspired images are recognized for their authenticity and provocative nature. Melamed's work has been featured in publications like Paper Magazine and The New Yorker, aiming to provoke thought and initiate dialogue on gender and self-discovery. 

Over the past five years, Iranian-American photographer Melody Melamed has been working on her most personal project yet, The Book of Skin: Shangri-la, which focuses on ‘gender euphoria’, the feeling of joy that trans and other genderqueer people can experience when their gender expression aligns with their gender identity. Melamed has been working with trans bodies and trans identities for more than a decade, exploring the emotionality behind transitioning and stepping into one’s true self.

Artist website: melodymelamed.com