Starly Lou Riggs (xe/they) is a queer agender visual artist from the United States. A self-renowned freak, their work focuses on self reflection and world building in experimental ways that challenge the conventional. Working with any and all mediums—photography, soft sculpture, video, ink drawing, poetry, music, performance, print, and self portraiture—their work is a process of playful exploration. Living inside dreamscapes, they create characters based on personal experience and surrealist fever dreams, blurring the bounds of reality as a way of rewriting norms, examining alternative perception, and reevaluating history while normalizing queer faces, spaces, and feelings.

Starly recently exhibited a multimedia installation at the iconic BSM Building in Buenos Aires, Argentina via the artist residency R.A.R.O. Buenos Aires. Their first book, "el amor es enfermo y el diablo es un sueño" was published this year with Borderline Press and is currently available for order. They are also currently in production for their first podcast, Noise Made By, with co-host, spouse, and fellow musician Leo Fazio.

Starting in 2016, Starly worked as Media Coordinator and in PR for XRAY.FM, Case Study, and ELEVEN PDX Magazine. At ELEVEN PDX, Starly had the honor of interviewing incredible artists Vince Staples, John Waters, Faye Webster, Red Fang, Thao, Quinn Chistopherson and more, alongside their role as Managing Editor.

As a photographer, they have taken cover art images for The Shivas, Floating Room and Bijoux Cone, as well as press images for Reptaliens, Blackwater Holylight, and Jessica Boudreaux of Summer Cannibals. Deep in the Portland film and music community, they were Director of Photography of music videos for bands like Kyle Craft (Sub Pop), Reptaliens (Captured Tracks), Bijoux Cone (Cleopatra Records), and Spoon Benders. They also have worked on set for big names like Esperanza Spalding.

Acting in art direction and set design on many self directed photoshoots, Starly was also Art Director for "Dear, Cheryl" and Production Designer for indie horror short, "Night Shift" (Portland Horror Film Festival, Horrorigins Film Fest, Queer Screams). They have freelanced as Gaffer, Production Assistant, Grip and other roles with Desert Island Studios on small indie productions and big commercial projects for brands like Nike, Gatorade, AAA, The City of Portland, and Care Oregon.

With a BA in Film Production and Screenwriting at Hampshire College and an MFA in Print Media at Pacific Northwest College of Art, Starly found communities in both academic and DIY arts spaces and communities. In Portland, they were in the band Death Parade performing keys, guitar, and vocals live and on the album "It Was Worth It To Love, Though It Hurt So Bad" alongside Laura Hopkins and have worked with youth as Aftercare Coordinator for Duniway All Stars, leading elementary school age kids in arts, music and science activities from 2018-2023.

Instagram: @get.filthy
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You can reach Starly Lou Riggs at starly.lou.riggs@gmail.com

xoxo