ABOUT

Erica McKeehen (b. 1987, Marion, OH) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Chicago, IL. McKeehen creates self-portraits and images, often paired with biographical writing, of her close friends and peers who are burlesque performers and navigate a range of roles within the sex industry. In building long-term collaborative narratives, she explores identity, performance, and storytelling to present nuanced views of femme experience, sexuality, and autonomy. She also curates intimate public panel discussions with her peers in burlesque and sex work and is the co-creator of Chicago’s Lust for Life, a rock n’ roll burlesque show, alongside her collaborator, Kitty Tornado.

Growing up in rural Ohio, McKeehen spent her childhood consumed by her dad’s vast rock n’ roll media collection; her lifelong fascinations with public persona and depictions of glamorous icons come from the music videos, album covers, and photo spreads in Rolling Stone that she studiously viewed.

McKeehen received her BS ‘10 from Ohio University, and her MA ‘21 and MFA ‘23, both from Columbia College Chicago. At Columbia, her photographic work was recognized by the Stuart Abelson Graduate Research Fellowship, Albert P. Weisman Award, John Mulvany and Bob Thall Scholarship in Photography, Fogelson Foundation Photography Scholarship, Anderson Ranch Award, and Lya Dym Rosenblum Award.

CV

CONTACT

commissions, inquiries, & love letters: erica.mckeehen@gmail.com