Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jesse Clark. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jesse, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I feel that Portrait photography has become my way of combating media representations that desensitize our view of violence against Black individuals. I’m interested in capturing and depicting the resilience of Black people and the beauty that grows as a result. Inspired by the Delacroix painting “Liberty Leading the People”, I recently I developed an image titled “Liberty” for my BFA Thesis for Ringling College of Art + Design. This image brought together the combined efforts of over twenty-five Black Ringling College students, staff and alumni with the purpose of reshaping how people view Blackness, especially as it relates to overcoming social injustices. In a similar way to this painting, I wanted to represent the long fight for freedom and equality, but in my own way wanted to humanize the people within that fight.

Jesse, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Art was something I started to take a little more seriously as a career path as I got into High School. I had studied Visual Art for 4 years at Harrison School for the Arts and decided to expand my knowledge into college. I recently graduated from Ringling College of Art & Design with a BFA in Photography and Imaging. Through that program I really learned how I could use my art as a tool to move people and spark conversation. I began to apply this to spreading awareness to social issues that affected me. More specifically, I started to center my photographic work around combatting outdated views of Black identity and showcasing Black identity in a positive light. What I mean when I say this, is creating portraits that don’t perpetuate the aggressive or criminal tropes we often see Black people casted in. Portraits that bring about a more humanizing narrative. They show Black joy, beauty and peace. Things that other races typically already have the privilege of being visualized in.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

As I’ve previously mentioned, the goal of showcasing the beauty of Blackness. This really grew out of my own need as someone who once struggled with their own identity. I grew up hearing things that made me feel ashamed to be Black, or that in being so meant I was ugly or needed to fit within a certain box. And that type of mindset was just the product of media I was consuming. And so I figured, if I created work that was felt true to me and how I’d want the world to see me, then I could help my own self image. This then expanded into creating images that would have that same impact on so many other people. I want to create images that my younger self could look up to, and in the same way create images in which Black people find their since of beauty in as well.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creating the work that I do, is seeing how much this resonates with people. Although my work centers around Blackness, it reaches other audiences as well. I love being able to talk with viewers and getting their interpretations of my work or how I they connect with the pieces. I feel theirs is something for everybody within my portraits and I feel that through these images, I am contributing to a more unified world.  x 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jesseclarkart.com
• Instagram: @jesseclarkart
• Linkedin: jesseclarkart

Image Credits
BTS Image of Jesse Clark photographing crowd. (credit: Chutiphon Phisitthanadun www.witchutiphon.com