Shan Sims

Shan Sims (she/they) is a photographer in the Germantown section of Philly. Their photos have been published and exhibited in several different outlets and spaces in the tri-state area. Although they work primarily as a portrait photographer and as a social media/marketing goddess for local businesses, Shan's true passion is fine art. She uses self portraits and portraits of others to voice their frustrations against negative norms and expectations that have been set in society based on sexism, genderism and homophobia. When Shan doesn't have a camera in their hand, she is an active as a volunteer with Germantown Community Fridges - helping her neighbors and promoting access to free food for everyone.

Statement

Most of Shan's fine art work revolves around self portraits or portraits of womxn identifying folks. Their work explores the beauty and resilience of human bodies. Her self portraits began as a way to heal and document her body as it ages and changes, to empower not only themself but others as well that their body is their buddy. The settings of her portraits (herself or others) are usually based in an abandoned space or nature to play into the idea of the decay created by humans and the beauty of nature and our natural selves. 

State

PA