Most of us spend our lives trying to cover up our deepest insecurities. Artist Steve Rosenfield has people write them on their bodies. Started in 2010, “What I Be” is a project about individuals’ bravery to reveal their inner fears and resist society’s expectation that we always present our edited and positive best self.
Steve Rosenfield wasn’t always a self-aware artist, in
I never opened up and that created a lack in my relationships where people were scared to open up to me because they saw me as “blunt”. I eventually started to realize how unhappy I truly was so I started reading and journaling and further understanding that, in order to be happy, I needed to be more open and honest with people. I needed to be more compassionate which, in turn, made people feel safe around me because I was open to them.”
Steve Rosenfeld
After quitting his job, traveling the world, deepening his relationships, and learning photography, Rosenfeld started to wonder how he could truly make a difference in people’s lives. In his own words:
Although being able to photograph people and make a living off it was so amazing, I wanted to do something with my passion that had more meaning. Something that would touch peoples souls.”
Steve Rosenfeld
And that’s how the “What I Be” project came to happen. Each portrait begins with the statement: “I am not my_____,” These insecurities are then written directly on the subject’s face. The idea is to share deep insecurities without actually showing them,
While the project includes big names like Trevor Hall, Norah Jones, Ben Howard, Joss Stone, Macklemore
Subjects range the gamut of human experiences from emotional topics such as anger, anxiety
It is an ongoing project so please check out the What I Be website for more portraits and information.
