Before I transferred to Texas State University, I went natural. Going natural allows your hair to grow without altering its curl through chemicals or excessive heat. My transition extended into my first couple of semesters at school, and I learned a lot about my hair. Eventually, I saw my natural curl pattern for the first time. During this adjustment, I experimented more with my hair, and I began to use photography as a tool for further documentation and self-exploration. Since wearing my hair naturally was a part of myself that had yet to be introduced, the camera helped make sense of all the feelings and implications that could come from wearing my hair in its intended state. 

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This documentation of my hair was pivotal, for, I encountered an unexpected transition through my photography practice. I realized I wanted to make photographs that analyzed my identity more closely and to create something I felt was encompassing of its multitudes. Over time, I began to examine Blackness, my place within it, and what it means to exist as a Black woman. My hair is only one facet of Blackness whereas identity, politics, community, and much more contribute to our understanding and perceptions of Blackness itself. My photobook, liminal intimacies, initially, was born from making work about Black hair. Now, this work explores my desire to participate, question, and understand the limitless cultural experiences of Blackness.

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The need to understand Blackness ultimately stems from the need to understand who I am. In researching Blackness, I find it is not a monolith: there is no singular Black experience. In liminal intimacies, I think of Blackness as being transitional. It defies polarity and exists within an in-between space that metaphorically and photographically, is gray. As shown in this body of work, I am interested in exploring the idea that Blackness can be experienced through the rusty old chair my late grandfather used to play dominoes in, my father’s comportment when posing for a photograph, and the combs used to style my hair. 

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The aesthetics of this book embody its sentiment as I photograph family, intimate relationships, physical and metaphorical connections, objects, and how these devices are integral to my identity. This work holds personal significance because it actualizes self-love and belonging. It also acts as a catalyst for continued self-exploration. My photobook is a snapshot of my current practices as an artist and the many ways Blackness intersects in my life. It functions as a paragraph in an unfinished essay and allows me the freedom to express my narrative.

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Buy a physical copy of my photo book, liminal intimacies, here.

Email to purchase a PDF version, for a reduced price.

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