Em Monforte (they/them) is a queer photographer based in Los Angeles. Fantasizing about strangers’ lives — what they choose to hang on the walls, leave a mess, pick out to wear when hosting new guests — has driven Em's image-making practice of the past decade. Their work plays in the space between who Em imagines their subjects to be and how each person choses to present themselves. Em infuses their own curiosities about their subjects through meticulously directing the clothing, facial expression, bodily position and spatial arrangement to depict a collaborative fantasy rather than a true reality.
Em received a BA in fine art and sociology from Wesleyan University in 2018. Their work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, British Journal of Photography, New York Magazine, W Magazine, Los Angeles Times among many others.
Their work has been exhibited at Pomegranate Press in Richmond, Virginia and Cluster London. In June of 2024 Em will have their first solo show at MRKT gallery in San Francisco for their ongoing body of work, “To wear your (little queer) heart".
Contactemilymonfortephotography@gmail.com
EducationBachelor of Arts: Sociology & Fine Arts, Wesleyan University, Summa cum laude
Artist talks
Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, February 2022
Stoa Collective – Dublin, Ireland (virtual), November 2020
Publications
"‘I know who I am’ Portraits of the everyday lives of trans teens," The Washington Post, 2023
"Witness: Portraits of people living the news," The New York Times (print only), 2023
"Is there anyone more captivating than Juliette Lewis?" The Washington Post, 2023"
"TikTok’s ‘vibe check analyst’ helps queer youth feel comfortable in their own skin," Los Angeles Times, 2022
"Fighting Fire with Fire – Issue One | Transportation," The Dry River (print only), 2022
"The Mars Volta Returns With a Swerve: Its Own Version of Pop," The New York Times, 2022
"Abbi Jacobson Knows the Pressure Is On," The Cut, 2022
"How queer indie-pop trio Muna made the most of a second chance," Los Angeles Times, 2022
"In the Studio with Deanna and Ed Templeton," British Journal of Photography, 2022
"All hail the drag queens raising L.A.'s tight-knit families," Los Angeles Times, 2022
"With ‘Russian Doll,’ Natasha Lyonne wants to ‘catalog a life.’ Just not her life." Los Angeles Times, 2022
"Remi Wolf Turns Bedroom Pop Into Hypercolored Explosions," The New York Times, 2022
"Colman Domingo Takes the Lead," W Magazine, 2021
Press
"What Does It Mean to Be Queer? I photographed over 70 young people to find out," The Cut, 2023
"Queerness Beyond Desire Portrait Series," Gigantic Magazine, 2022
"Near Convergence Portrait Series," Anywhere Blvd, 2021
"Near Convergence Portrait Series," Aint-Bad, 2021
"Collection: Near Convergence," Life Framer Artist Collection, 2021
"Emily Monforte fotografa perfetti sconosciuti immaginandosi le loro personalità," i-D Italia Magazine, 2019
"Near Convergence Series," Stop Gap Journal (print only), 2019
Exhibitions
Cluster London Photography & Print, London, England, February 2020
Zilkha Gallery, Near Convergence, Middletown, CT, May 2018