Nate Gowdy

Nate Gowdy (1984; Elkhart, Indiana) is a Seattle photographer of 12 years who documents this American political era. In 2011, Gowdy was hired at Seattle Gay News. As staff photographer, he became immersed in Seattle’s queer and trans communities, primarily documenting drag and club culture. He was also brought on as the official photographer for the Seattle Pride Parade, a role he continues in today. In 2012, he dedicated himself to covering the fight for marriage equality in Washington state. Gowdy worked intimately with President Obama in 2013 and Vice President Biden in 2014 during their respective visits to Seattle. Since 2015, he has self-funded coverage of hundreds of political events and protests across 25 states and Washington, DC. In 2016, his portrait of Bernie Sanders made the cover of TIME magazine, and regular clients include Rolling Stone and Mother Jones. In 2019, Gowdy spearheaded a collaborative studio portrait and storytelling series, titled The American Superhero Project. In 2020, he was commissioned by Seattle Public Schools to co-author and produce Our Students, Their Stories, a 100-page coffee table book celebrating the district’s LGBTQ+ students, families, and staff. Gowdy is an Indiana University journalism graduate, former newspaper editor, preschool caregiver, and community outreach worker. He maintains a photography studio in Seattle's International District, and his fine art is represented at Monroe Gallery of Photography in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He enjoys teaching, kayaking, riding his bike, yoga, and time spent with loved ones. INSURRECTION is his first monograph.