hez sumner is a fine art photographer and painter based in alexandria, kentucky. sumner received a bfa in photography & painting from northern kentucky university in 2025.

hez explores questions about existence, trauma, grief, and inner worlds. their projects often confront the intricate dynamics that persist within familial bonds. sumner pulls from their midwest upbringing, confronting lingering traces of trauma, addiction, mental illness, gender dysphoria, and suppressed grief.