We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marissa Stewart a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Marissa, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned my craft from my time in undergrad at Bowling Green State University. I tried all the other mediums: painting, glass blowing, ceramics even printmaking and just never got the hang of them until I tried photography. I don’t think I could have speeded up my learning process, or do I think I would have wanted to. Taking the time to really dedicate myself to the process and the medium, allowed me to respect it. It allowed me to nurture ideas until they were truly ready to blossom. The skills that were most essential: the ability to listen, learn, multitasking, and creatively problem solve. The biggest obstacle that stood in the way was access to resources whether that be film, studio space, camera equipment etc.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a 29 year old photographer who specializes in analog photography. Mainly black and white photography in 35mm format, medium format and 4×5 large format. I am known mostly for my portrait work that surrounds my family and lineage through the women in my family. Recently graduated from Ohio University in April with my MFA in Photography + Integrated Media. My main push into photography was I literally didn’t have a knack for other fine art mediums, so I landed on photo and gave it everything I had!

I am most proud of being the person to capture and record the living history of my family and the people I know through photographs. To provide visual documentation of living, family, and experiences; whether that be my own family or others. For people who are just discovering me as an artist I would like them to know I strive to bring underrepresented individuals to the forefront, showcase voices that are often not heard and to do so in a creative way. I’m continuing to learn, grow and adapt my practice and my work. I don’t have everything figured out and I’m constantly pushing myself to change, experiment with new ideas and bodies of work

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

My particular mission that drives my creative journey is to uplift black voices, experiences, lives, and points of view. Using my camera to allow guards to come down, histories to be told, memories to be preserved and ultimately celebrated. This mission started I think from an event in my childhood, in elementary we were asked to make a family tree but with mine I could only so far back (which was not very far) until family members had to call each other and rely on an oral telling of information. I wanted to change that with my camera, to photograph my family as if to say “we were here and we lived”.

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

The most rewarding aspect for me I believe is being able to do the thing I love everyday if I wanted. To also be able to share that love and passion for my craft with others. It allows me to live a more full life, that can be exciting, healing and challenge all wrapped into one.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.marissanicolestewart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marissanicolestewart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissa-stewart-mfa-b36a1b1b9/

Image Credits
Marissa Nicole Stewart