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Holding Space: Life and Love Through a Queer Lens
Featuring 100 stunning color photographs of queer, interracial couples taken by a renowned photographer for the New York Times Magazine, Time, Rolling Stone, and more, this incredible photo and story collection depicts modern love and relationships in all their joy, vulnerability, and affection.
Throughout 2020 and 2021, during a time of intense personal and political upheaval, artist, advocate, and photographer Ryan Pfluger set out to capture intimate images of queer, interracial couples, along with personal insight into their relationships in today's world. Featured together for the first time in Holding Space, this unique collection of modern love in its many forms across the spectrum of race, sexuality, and gender identity and gives space to these couples to share short, revealing stories about their relationships.
The photos in this collection, and the people in them, can be startling in their openness, playful in their poses, and tender to their core. Pfluger has captured the magic, honesty, and beauty of love in today's queer culture.
With a Foreword by Janicza Bravo and an essay by Brandon Kyle Goodman
Throughout 2020 and 2021, during a time of intense personal and political upheaval, artist, advocate, and photographer Ryan Pfluger set out to capture intimate images of queer, interracial couples, along with personal insight into their relationships in today's world. Featured together for the first time in Holding Space, this unique collection of modern love in its many forms across the spectrum of race, sexuality, and gender identity and gives space to these couples to share short, revealing stories about their relationships.
The photos in this collection, and the people in them, can be startling in their openness, playful in their poses, and tender to their core. Pfluger has captured the magic, honesty, and beauty of love in today's queer culture.
With a Foreword by Janicza Bravo and an essay by Brandon Kyle Goodman
224 pages, Hardcover
First published November 8, 2022
6 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 23, 2022
Well, I made it.
November 27, 2022
there is nothing i love more than queer love, and holding space does such a wonderful job at allowing queer love to be present throughout the collection in all its different forms. the photographs tell their own story, and then we’re afforded the very rare opportunity to experience these couples through their own words, their own styles of communicating with the world and with each other. we receive all of the nuance, the highs and the celebrations as well as the mess and the journey, and that makes it all the more necessary.
holding space is a true experience and a wonderful dedication to those who do not often have the chance for their love to be visible and to be celebrated. it is honestly a joy to spend time with this incredibly beautiful piece of art.
holding space is a true experience and a wonderful dedication to those who do not often have the chance for their love to be visible and to be celebrated. it is honestly a joy to spend time with this incredibly beautiful piece of art.
December 27, 2022
Absolutely gorgeous combination of photography and text! Every relationship depicted in this book feels nuanced, real, and vulnerable, and I really appreciated the opportunity to be welcomed into the most intimate parts of these couples' lives. My only critique is that I would have loved to see a stronger variety in ages, such as a few more elderly couples.
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January 6, 2023photos and profiles that do a deep confessional dive of queer couples and how their relationships nurture them and comfort them and protect them in an age of insecurity and anxiety, revealing the unique, inescapable and wounding challenges of queer relationships and how they have survived and grown through them
December 14, 2022
This was a picture and short story collection of interracial queer couples. I was excited for this when I requested it and it didn’t disappoint. I love things like this showing people existing, creating records of things that we sparingly get to see anywhere; queer people existing. There were couples still together, some that had broken up, het presenting couples. Each couple chose how to pose, what clothes to wear, and how much or little skin they showed making this collection feel extremely genuine and heartfelt. This book was limited to pairs of 2 I would have liked to see at least one poly relationship because there was so much inclusion of relationships in all their forms, but other then that I really enjoyed flipping through and seeing all the couples and how they chose to present themselves.
*a copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
*a copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
June 3, 2023
God I love queer people and queer love so fucking much.
I feel like this book taught me so much about all the different ways a partnership can be, change, and grow, especially in the context of intersectionality, race, gender, and sexuality. Each photograph was so beautiful and intimate, and when paired with the stories of each couple, it was easy to fall in love with every person featured and their love story, even when it didn't work out in the end. The endless amount of care, support, and willingness to learn each couple displayed was incredible and so eye-opening to the sheer amount of hard, but necessary and loving work that goes into a healthy and safe partnership, especially one when race and gender play such a focal point to each couple's identity. A very worthy first read of pride month!
I feel like this book taught me so much about all the different ways a partnership can be, change, and grow, especially in the context of intersectionality, race, gender, and sexuality. Each photograph was so beautiful and intimate, and when paired with the stories of each couple, it was easy to fall in love with every person featured and their love story, even when it didn't work out in the end. The endless amount of care, support, and willingness to learn each couple displayed was incredible and so eye-opening to the sheer amount of hard, but necessary and loving work that goes into a healthy and safe partnership, especially one when race and gender play such a focal point to each couple's identity. A very worthy first read of pride month!
January 8, 2025
I’ve been following Ryan Pfluger’s photography for some time now and remember when this book was announced. I was determined to find it and have looked in every single Barnes & Noble I have set foot in since its release to find it. I didn’t anticipate finding it on the shelf in Central Pennsylvania, but I was determined nonetheless. It wasn’t until I was in Connecticut, shopping with my girlfriend (the love of my life), that I found it. Seems poetic that we were together when I finally found it. This was worth the searching, as it’s easily one of the most beautiful collections of art I’ve experienced. There’s so much joy and power within the photographs and words in this text. It will most certainly sit on the coffee table for all to peruse in our home. Art is so beautiful and important, I’m so thankful to live in a time where queer art is so celebrated. Thank you Ryan Pfluger!
November 1, 2022
oh my god! This book is so good! It featured 100 photos stories of queer, interracial couples. Absolutely amazing. The entire time I was reading this I kept thinking how obvious everyone truly loved each other. Even the couples that broke up, you could tell there was something important they gained in the relationship. What I especially loved was that the people being photographed were in full control of how they were portrayed. Each couple chose how to pose, how much clothes to wear, what clothes to wear, the location the photo was taken, etc. They shared the stories from their own points of view rather than being described by someone who hasn't lived their experiences. It truly gave me hope and made me desperately want to fall in love. This book is about love for the people portrayed, the communities shown, and to the readers. I absolutely adored it.
September 4, 2025
such a wonderful short read! i loved every part of it. tells all the good and the bad and the in between. so so insightful!
November 13, 2022
Beautiful. Queer love stories, queer loss, and everything in between. I appreciate this so much because it just shows queerness existing and people living as their authentic selves.
Stunning, well thought and wonderfully shot. Bravo.
Stunning, well thought and wonderfully shot. Bravo.
January 30, 2023
I love queer love!! These stories and portraits were beautiful. I did wish there was more variation regarding body types & sizes, but beautiful nonetheless.
My favourite couples were Jari & Deniz and Miles & Tim.
My favourite couples were Jari & Deniz and Miles & Tim.
January 18, 2023
NetGalley ARC Educator 550974
This book should be within the LGBTQIA+ collections of every library and home. Photobooks of LGBTQ persons are far and few in between. With this magnificent piece of art, I hope there will be many others. A beautiful collection that hopefully is not the last from this author or other photographers.
This book should be within the LGBTQIA+ collections of every library and home. Photobooks of LGBTQ persons are far and few in between. With this magnificent piece of art, I hope there will be many others. A beautiful collection that hopefully is not the last from this author or other photographers.
December 20, 2022
Holding Space: Life and Love Through a Queer Lens by Ryan Pfluger features 100 stunning color photographs of queer, interracial couples taken by a renowned photographer for the New York Times Magazine, Time, Rolling Stone, and more, this incredible photo and story collection depicts modern love and relationships in all their joy, vulnerability, and affection. Throughout 2020 and 2021, during a time of intense personal and political upheaval, artist, advocate, and photographer Ryan Pfluger set out to capture intimate images of queer, interracial couples, along with personal insight into their relationships in today’s world. Featured together for the first time in Holding Space, this unique collection of modern love in its many forms across the spectrum of race, sexuality, and gender identity and gives space to these couples to share short, revealing stories about their relationships.
Holding Space: Life and Love Through a Queer Lens is a wonderful collection of honest and frank interviews about the featured couples and their relationships and experiences. There is discussion on how they make their relationships work, and in some cases why they did not work out. But there is also discussion about the discriminations and challenges that come from society's expectations, bigotry, and the so much more. This is a great exploration of identity, diversity, and relationships that is accessible to anyone. It was lovely to get fresh and differing perspectives on the impact that family, race, gender identity and its fluid nature, and society can have on individuals and couples.
Holding Space: Life and Love Through a Queer Lens is a wonderful collection of honest and frank interviews about the featured couples and their relationships and experiences. There is discussion on how they make their relationships work, and in some cases why they did not work out. But there is also discussion about the discriminations and challenges that come from society's expectations, bigotry, and the so much more. This is a great exploration of identity, diversity, and relationships that is accessible to anyone. It was lovely to get fresh and differing perspectives on the impact that family, race, gender identity and its fluid nature, and society can have on individuals and couples.
December 4, 2022
Beautiful, restorative, essential work.
June 15, 2025
SO beautiful and quotable. Many reminiscences of what love is between individuals of varying gender identities and racial backgrounds. Photos are poignant and sensual. I appreciated the inclusions from couples who had since broken up.
“It feels like I was born to love you.”
“Often, just holding hands on the street feels like we’re putting ourselves in real danger—but we push ourselves to do it because we owe it to ourselves to live.”
“You make it so easy to love you.”
“And year after year we rise to the challenge of accepting our and each other's new shapes, choosing to love each other again, and again.”
“We might not have checked each other's boxes, but maybe the boxes were wrong.”
“The greatest love of all is to sacrifice your desires to help someone become the person they need to be.”
“Love can be easy with the right person. It should be.”
“I think this is the hardest I’ve ever worked at a relationship and the hardest I’ve loved as well.”
“Over time, I have discovered that love in every form is the altruistic and uncomfortable act of surrendering.”
“Our love knows no bounds, only stars and infinite skies.”
“A magnetic pull toward holding hands, a poetry to how our bodies intertwine.”
“Our differences challenge us in many ways, but these challenges also provide us unique opportunities for growth, connection, and joy.”
“In a world that is so lonely and scary, I have found love that has given me a genuine feeling of home, comfort, and acceptance. A love that shines so bright.”
“I always knew I deserved love, and I finally have it.”
“It feels like I was born to love you.”
“Often, just holding hands on the street feels like we’re putting ourselves in real danger—but we push ourselves to do it because we owe it to ourselves to live.”
“You make it so easy to love you.”
“And year after year we rise to the challenge of accepting our and each other's new shapes, choosing to love each other again, and again.”
“We might not have checked each other's boxes, but maybe the boxes were wrong.”
“The greatest love of all is to sacrifice your desires to help someone become the person they need to be.”
“Love can be easy with the right person. It should be.”
“I think this is the hardest I’ve ever worked at a relationship and the hardest I’ve loved as well.”
“Over time, I have discovered that love in every form is the altruistic and uncomfortable act of surrendering.”
“Our love knows no bounds, only stars and infinite skies.”
“A magnetic pull toward holding hands, a poetry to how our bodies intertwine.”
“Our differences challenge us in many ways, but these challenges also provide us unique opportunities for growth, connection, and joy.”
“In a world that is so lonely and scary, I have found love that has given me a genuine feeling of home, comfort, and acceptance. A love that shines so bright.”
“I always knew I deserved love, and I finally have it.”
November 19, 2024
so cutesy ladybug
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews