Keavy Handley-Byrne

Keavy Handley-Byrne is a visual artist and writer based on the unceded lands of the Lenape and Canarsie peoples in New York City. Handley-Byrne’s work addresses issues of queer identity and gender, as well as examining contemporary ideas of death and mourning and the intersections thereof. Their work has been exhibited across the US, including at CultureLabLIC, Beacon Artist Union, the RISD Museum, ClampArt, Photographic Center Northwest, Paradice Palase, School of Visual Arts and ChaShaMa. Images of theirs have been included in numerous independent publications, including WITNESS, now in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

In addition to being a critic at RISD, Handley-Byrne is also an instructor in the International Center of Photography’s continuing education department. They have acted as visiting artist and critic at Simmons University, Endicott College, University of Arkansas, SPE Northeast, PrattMWP, SUNY Purchase and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. They hold an MFA from RISD and a BFA from Purchase College, SUNY.