Kyle Stephen Dunn (He/They) (B. 1988, Springfield, IL) is a photographer and lens-based artist who is
currently pursuing an MFA in Photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (May 2025).
Influenced by artists like Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Dunn’s work similarly uses simple yet powerful gestures
to explore themes of loss, love, and the importance of community within marginalized groups. His recent
work reflects on the lost histories of LGBTQIA+ communities in rural towns of Central Illinois. By
revisiting sites from his past, Dunn reflects on his own experiences as a queer person growing up in these
communities, while also connecting them to broader LGBTQIA+ experiences. Through photographic
portraiture and other multimedia works, such as sculpture and painting, By incorporating mark-making
and his personal touch, he expands possibilities of photographic expression, adding layers of
intentionality and meaning to his work.