The opening reception of the new Gordon Parks exhibition at Pace Gallery vividly reminded me of the first time I encountered his photography. I can’t recall the when and where of the exact moment, but I distinctly remember the sensation…

Are Black women constantly obsessing about the Male Gaze and the White Gaze? No. We are not a monolith and don’t all share the same exact anxieties, if any at all, about our appearances. But just know that when you encounter a Black girl or woman stressing about her outfit and hairstyle for a school or work event, there’s levels to this shit!

The exhibition, which closed on June 1, continues the visual conversations from his 2021 Studio Museum of Harlem residency, showcasing deeply tender portrayals of Black trans masculine identities in moments of grief, rest, contemplation, devotion, sexuality, and love.