Biography

Kaya Miranda (she/her) is originally from Malibu, California, and is now located in southern Oregon. She received her bachelor of fine arts in art and works as a high school art teacher. Kaya is an artist whose focal medium lies in the field of portrait photography. Along with portraiture, she practices printmaking and ceramics. Kaya’s works explore the themes of intimacy, the female form, and the male and female gaze. Her images call attention to these themes and create realistic representations of women and their bodies.

Artist Statement

As a woman, I have always struggled with self-acceptance. I have viewed myself with standards set by the male gaze: objectifying, sexualizing, and constantly judging. I subject myself to this perspective relentlessly. After years of self-torment and paralyzing shame, I began to question why and how the women I loved were unabashedly comfortable within their own skin. How did that confidence elude me? Using photography as my guide I slowly came to understand the power and beauty of the female body. The body that I had objectified and put down. The body that I convinced myself would never be good enough. Finally, I have broken free from the male gaze that has held me hostage by placing myself in front of the lens. Now I am healing, I am accepting, I am embracing my flaws as strengths, and I am replacing the male gaze with my own.