Maite de Orbe

Maite de Orbe (b. 1997, Madrid, Spain) is a London-based artist working with the mediums of photography and film. Working primarily with the queer communities, drag performers and sex workers, de Orbe’s practice focuses on self-identification, blurring traditional concepts of history and truth, combining a documentary style with a fantasy-like storytelling approach. They draw inspiration from club dance and industrial music, and work created during and about the AIDS crisis and queer sexual liberation movements. They prioritise love, intimacy and pleasure which they portray with a performative and sometimes ironic approach proper to a camp aesthetic.De Orbe studied BA (Hons) Photography at London College of Communication (2017-2020) and an MA in Computational Arts at Goldsmiths University (2020-2021). They currently teach as an Associate Lecturer at LCC specialising in queer storytelling and experimental filmmaking. They went on to a two-year residency at Barbican Centre (2021-2023), resulting in three end-of-year exhibitions in the public areas of Barbican.Their work has been exhibited in Frieze Art Fair, Bermondsey Project Space, Copeland Gallery and The Horse Hospital all in London, Photo St. Germain (Paris), Fotomuseum (Winterthur), Mare Karina (Venice). Selected publications include The Financial Times, PORT Magazine, It’s Nice That, Dazed, BBC, Metal Magazine, Wonderland Magazine, Schön Magazine, Revista Salvaje.