An art exhibition, co-produced by trans filmmaker Jake Graf and campaigner Hannah Graf MBE, showcasing the real lives of trans and non-binary people is set to reach London on Trans Day of Visibility (TDoV).

Shoppers visiting Westfield shopping centre in London, UK, between 27 March and 2 April will encounter a celebration of trans lives through the “Trans Is Human” exhibition.

Visitors to Europe’s largest shopping centre will spot intimate portraits of trans people from all walks of life, with descriptions of each person’s history and interests.

The project aims to reveal inspiring stories in each of the 13 models’ lives beyond their gender identity.

Speaking exclusively to PinkNews, Jake says that the exhibition is for those “who don’t know someone who is trans” to better understand the diversity and normalcy of the community.

“This is aimed at all of those people who will only have what the media tells them about trans people and what the government tells them about trans people to go off,” he says.

‘This needs to be out in the world’

The black-and-white portraits, shot by GQ and Rolling Stone photographer Mariano Vivanco, showcase trans people of all different kinds, with ages ranging from 15 all the way to 72 years old.

Among them, 38-year-old Adelle, is a working Mum from Essex with two children who said she considers herself to have a “very normal life.”

Another model, 31-year-old Leo, has Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy and works with other physically disabled adults as a life coach to help elevate and inspire them.

Jake says that it was vital for the exhibition to be in the public eye given its goals and messages, especially at a time when trans people are increasingly vilified in the media.

“This needs to be out in the world,” he says. “It needs to be in exhibition spaces. It needs to be in public places. It needs to be, hopefully, you know, all the way across the media so that people who have never met a trans person can see these images and think, you know, that person looks like my grandmother or my brother or my sister.”

Petra, one of the exhibition’s models, is a prime representation of the exhibition’s purpose. Born in the early 1950s, Petra faced hardship in her early life after losing her father and dealing with frequent bullying at school. Now in her 70s she has been married to her loving wife, Loraine, for over 38 years.

In contrast, 15-year-old Milo’s journey through life has just begun. An avid swimmer, drummer, and rugby player, he has confided in his rugby team who have fully supported him from day one. As much as he might not admit it, he really loves his mum, too.

Trans Is Human exhibition to return next year, Jake Graf says

Jake says that the Trans Is Human exhibition is just the beginning, telling PinkNews that he hopes to do an annual shoot with trans people, culminating in an ever-developing database of real trans people on social media.

“We’re hoping to build a Trans Is Human page on Instagram and TikTok and invite members of the trans community, not just from the UK but beyond, to send us their photos and send us their stories so that we can upload them onto the page and have this huge thriving community of trans people from all across the world,” he says.

“Hopefully we can see how many of us there are out there, how vibrant and how amazing and how incredible we are because, you know, we are doctors, nurses, army officers, models, actors, and teachers. We are everywhere, and we are living the same lives as everyone else, just with this extra sort of, you know, thing.”

For now, though, Jake is content with the impact that the exhibition in Westfield will have, saying that now more than ever it is important to elevate the stories of trans lives.

“There’s this old sort of mantra that, you know, that you can’t be you if you can’t see you and, from my point of view, it is so important that we are out there. I’m talking about everyone from Petra who came out at sort of 60-odd to Sarah, who came out at 40.

“I think so many people will tap into that, and so many people will look and see the hope, the possibility, and the brightness that can be in their future if they are allowed to be themselves.”

Trans representation is more important than ever, activists say

Katie Wyle, head of shopping centre management at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, said that the exhibition was greenlit as a way to foster “understanding and inclusivity.”

“Supporting the ‘Trans Is Human’ campaign allows us to amplify these powerful stories and celebrate the diversity within our communities,” she continued. “We are committed to ensuring that all individuals feel seen, valued, and welcomed in our spaces, and we hope this project sparks meaningful conversations.”

Those values, Jake says, are more important than ever, given the rise of transphobia and anti-trans punditry in the UK and beyond.

A 2023 report published by The Home Office following the release of the annual hate crime statistics found that vitriol against trans people pushed by politicians and the media may have led to an increase in incidents.

“At the moment, we know that, globally, things are quite bad for trans people,” Jake says. “If you look to the US, it’s very scary that people like Pana, who served in the military for 10 years, are about to lose everything, lose their careers, lose their homes, lose their income, lose their stability.

“The UK, as we know, hasn’t been great in the last few years either … We need to really, really fight to hold on to the rights we have because we know what can happen if they start getting eroded.”

The ‘Trans Is Human’ exhibition can be found at the Westfield London shopping centre in White City, west London.

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