Artist’s website: rekanyari.com

Medium: Photography

Censored by: Instagram, Facebook

Date of censorship: May 2020, Jan 2020, June 2019, Jan 2019, Nov 2018, June 2018, May 2018, March 2018, Jan 2018, Sept 2017

Was there notification of removal? If so, what was the reason given?:
Against community guidelines, sexual content

Was there the opportunity to appeal? If so, did you appeal and what was the response?:
Yes sometimes. Once it was overturned, other times no.

What, if any, were the consequences of the removal for you?:
My facebook was blocked for almost 2 years; 2-4 months at a time. Instagram removed the images.

Comments:
My Facebook account was suspended for 2 months without a possibility of appeal just a month before my solo photography exhibition at Fremin Gallery in NYC, and the release of my new fine art book, Geisha Ink. I had previously relied on Facebook to promote my work to my audience, and this was a huge blow. Years of growing my audience on the platform was wasted, all for an old image of me standing in front of partially nude artwork.

Artist’s Instagram: @rekanyariphotography