Ayana V. Jackson

Ayana V. Jackson is a photographer who seeks to crystallize the experience of contemporary Africa and African diasporic societies. Through a sociological lens, Jackson combines honed technical skills with richly laced historical allusions to create hauntingly candid portraits that depict varying constructions of African and African-American identities. Her intensely focused images bear confrontational subjects that challenge the viewer's preconceived notions. A descendant of one of the first black families to settle in New Jersey, Jackson is a sensitive observer and capturer of black culture and history.