This ongoing project explores the intimate relationship between young women and their personal spaces. By photographing my friends in their bedrooms, I seek to capture the uncertainty and vulnerability that shape adolescence.
Growing up in the suburbs of Staten Island, I searched for individuality in the one place I could fully control. The bedroom became my first act of quiet rebellion against the architecture of the adult world. My identity was dispersed throughout the space—trinkets scattered across the dresser, posters layered on the walls. My friends shared this instinct, building their own imagined escapes through carefully chosen objects and décor.
The Bedroom Series considers the female bedroom as both refuge and record, a space that holds the emotional weight of becoming. Through light and shadow, each photograph reflects the tension between expectations of maturity and the persistence of innocence. We once longed to grow up; now we find ourselves reaching back toward the simplicity we left behind. This project honors the resilience of these women as they continue to navigate the evolving process of self-discovery.
Artist Bios
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Niamh Alarcon
Niamh Alarcon is a photographer based in Staten Island, New York, whose work navigates themes of identity, femininity, and coming of age. Utilizing both artificial and natural light, Niamh creates intimate portraits that explore the psyche through personal spaces and sentimental belongings. She is currently pursuing a BA in Visual Arts Management at the CUNY Macaulay Honors College at the College of Staten Island, where her work has been displayed in several group exhibitions.
Organizations
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The Alice Austen House
The Alice Austen House occupies a singular position, both geographically and culturally—on the water’s edge of Staten Island’s North Shore. Once the home, studio, and muse of pioneering photographer Alice Austen, the house dates back to 1690 and is one of New York City’s historic homes. Yet it functions today not as a static historic site, but as a dynamic contemporary arts hub.
The museum celebrates queer and women’s history while breathing new life into Austen’s legacy by engaging with current artistic, social, and personal exploration. For Austen, this home, now a public park, was a radical retreat and safe haven for her and her largely queer circle of friends. That spirit of refuge and experimentation continues today. We activate the house and grounds through our Queer Ecologies Garden, deep community partnerships, and sustained support for artists, fostering the creation of new work that honors the past while speaking directly to the present.
The museum and public park have been a National LGBTQ+ landmark since 2017.
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NYC Parks
NYC Parks is the steward of more than 30,000 acres of land — 14 percent of New York City — including more than 5,000 individual properties ranging from Coney Island Beach and Central Park to community gardens and Greenstreets. We operate more than 800 athletic fields and nearly 1,000 playgrounds, 1,800 basketball courts, 550 tennis courts, 65 public pools, 51 recreational facilities, 15 nature centers, 14 golf courses, and 14 miles of beaches. We care for 1,200 monuments and 23 historic house museums. We look after 600,000 street trees, and two million more in parks. We are New York City’s principal providers of recreational and athletic facilities and programs. We are home to free concerts, world-class sports events, and cultural festivals.
The Bedroom Series
Featuring: Niamh Alarcon
Curated by: Victoria Munro
Locations
ON VIEW AT: #89
View Location Details Alice Austen House2 Hylan Blvd
Staten Island, NY 10305
- Monday -
- Tuesday 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Thursday 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Friday 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Saturday -
- Sunday -
The views and opinions expressed in this exhibit are those of the exhibition artists and partners and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Photoville or any other participants and partners of the Photoville Festival.
