professional category
Interwoven (Series)
DESCRIPTION
In this series I explored homosexuality in the hyper-masculine Swaziland culture. Due to the fact that homosexuality in Swaziland is illegal, gay men constantly hide their sexuality and suppress their true identity. I set out to find gay Swazi men, who then confided in me and told me of their individual stories. I then made unique head wraps on each of their heads, giving them their own unique outlet to express their femininity and individuality that they regularly have to hide. It would be taboo for men to wear these head-wraps in public, as that would indicate homosexual tendencies. For each of the men I printed the portrait and wove the fabric from each wrap through out the photograph. I wove over their face concealing their identity but exposing their eyes to confront the viewer as they are hidden behind the fabric. Through this series, I aim to channel a voice for these suppressed men, while embracing an otherwise frowned-upon identity with a sense of pride without neglecting the reality of their every day existence.
AUTHOR
Education:
2016 MFA Parsons The New School of Design (Photography)
2009 BA The City College of New York (Photography & Graphic Design)
Solo and Two-Person Shows:
2014 “Be-Longing” Blank Space Gallery: New York, New York
Selected Group Shows:
2015 “The Museum Within and Without” State Hermitage Museum St. Petersburg, Russia.
2015 “Dispositive” Pingyao International Photography Festival, Pingyao, PRC.
2015 “Exposure” Photographic Resource Center; Boston, Massachusets
2015 “Premio FotoVisura” GuatePhoto Antigua, Guatemala
2015 “Future Projections”, Studio One, Auckland Festival of Photography.
2015 “Photowork 15” Barrett Art Center; Poughkeepsie, New York
2015 “Body” Tyler School of Art; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2014 “Nine Five One” The Forg; Memphis, Tennessee
2014 “Dialogue” Photoville; New York, New York
2012 “Building Bekzandla” New York, New York
2009 “Visual Aids Postcard” Metro Pictures; New York, New York
2008 “Healing Through the Arts Festival” Ashland, Ohio
2008 “14 A Photographic Conversation” Casa Frela Gallery; New York, New York
Collections:
2010 Swaziland National Museum
2010 Bulembu Historic Museum
Awards:
2015 Fotovisura Grant; Honorable Mention
2013 Eddie Adams Workshop
2013 Critical Mass Finalist
2009-2010 Mortimer B. Hayes- Brandeis Travelling Fellowship
2009 The James Steers Award CCNY
2009 The Connor Award CCNY
Lectures and Visiting Artist:
University of Pennsylvania: Penn
2016 MFA Parsons The New School of Design (Photography)
2009 BA The City College of New York (Photography & Graphic Design)
Solo and Two-Person Shows:
2014 “Be-Longing” Blank Space Gallery: New York, New York
Selected Group Shows:
2015 “The Museum Within and Without” State Hermitage Museum St. Petersburg, Russia.
2015 “Dispositive” Pingyao International Photography Festival, Pingyao, PRC.
2015 “Exposure” Photographic Resource Center; Boston, Massachusets
2015 “Premio FotoVisura” GuatePhoto Antigua, Guatemala
2015 “Future Projections”, Studio One, Auckland Festival of Photography.
2015 “Photowork 15” Barrett Art Center; Poughkeepsie, New York
2015 “Body” Tyler School of Art; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2014 “Nine Five One” The Forg; Memphis, Tennessee
2014 “Dialogue” Photoville; New York, New York
2012 “Building Bekzandla” New York, New York
2009 “Visual Aids Postcard” Metro Pictures; New York, New York
2008 “Healing Through the Arts Festival” Ashland, Ohio
2008 “14 A Photographic Conversation” Casa Frela Gallery; New York, New York
Collections:
2010 Swaziland National Museum
2010 Bulembu Historic Museum
Awards:
2015 Fotovisura Grant; Honorable Mention
2013 Eddie Adams Workshop
2013 Critical Mass Finalist
2009-2010 Mortimer B. Hayes- Brandeis Travelling Fellowship
2009 The James Steers Award CCNY
2009 The Connor Award CCNY
Lectures and Visiting Artist:
University of Pennsylvania: Penn
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