DEB CHOUDHURI

Cluster Photography & Print Exhibitor | 2025

Debmalya Ray Choudhuri (b. 1991, Kolkata) is a self-taught photographer from India, based in New York. They use photography, performance, and text to explore themes of personal trauma, mental health, and the intricacies of gender and identity. Their work delves into the human condition through intimate and emotionally charged encounters.

Over time, their practice has evolved from seeking a sense of belonging in one place to fostering connections with individuals, establishing proximity to one person at a time. In doing so, they explore how people express desire and love, using these encounters with strangers and friends to question the complex notion of being queer in today’s broader sociopolitical landscape.

With a background in philosophy, their work takes an empathetic, collaborative approach to storytelling, questioning identity, representation, and the impact of post-colonial capitalism on image production. Deb continues to exhibit work nationally and internationally, in venues such as Les Rencontres d'Arles, Rotterdam Photo Festival, Foto Festival Lenzburg (Switzerland), and the LGBT Center NYC, among others. Their work has been published in Hyperallergic, The Art Newspaper, Elephant Magazine, Der Greif, the British Journal of Photography, Trigger Magazine, and Granta Magazine.

“A Factless Autobiography is inspired by The Book of Disquiet, written by the Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa. It is an intimate and personal exploration of loss, desire, and the fragile nature of our existence. I began this project in response to the death of a lover and my confrontation with tuberculosis as a teenager. It grapples with the complex and often conflicting emotions of grief and melancholia while also questioning the nature of gender, identity, and the human condition.”

— Deb Choudhuri

ARTWORK TO PURCHASE AVAILABLE SOON

“This project marks the first chapter of an ongoing trilogy. This chapter primarily follows the journeys of three protagonists: a trans woman from Côte d’Ivoire—an immigrant in America and a recovering addict; a Black gay man—a survivor of abuse; and myself. Through this work, I seek to explore the challenges of being a queer South Asian immigrant in the socially and politically fragmented landscape of America, where queer and trans lives are increasingly at risk, while also attempting to shine a light on the power of solidarity and community.

Through long-term collaborations and the development of friendships with strangers—many of whom are survivors of trauma—I aim to create a healing space where we can express our personal and collective pain, as well as our hopes for transformation.”

— Deb Choudhuri