Where the Community Gathers: AFRAM 2025
Founder and Editor Lia J. Latty attends AFRAM for the first time, and documents the energy of the festival.
Founder and Editor Lia J. Latty attends AFRAM for the first time, and documents the energy of the festival.
How Essex Hemphill’s poetry finds new life through Black queer image-making at The Phillips Collection.
Madame FraankieMemphis, Tennesseehttps://www.madamefraankie.com/Instagram: @mmefraankie
Did you always know you wanted to be a creative and a photographer?
FRAANKIE: Creative AND photographer? NOPE! If we’re defining “a creative” as being an artist of some form or fashion, I’d say most definitely. My mom’s an artist, so I think that opened up a lot of doors for me to navigate the world creatively. I’ve done my share of exploring a few different creative practices throughout the years, from writing to music-making, drawing, and painting. Photography was definitely a curveball. I’ve always loved photographs. Good photographs. Bad photographs. Doesn’t matter. One of my favorite pastimes growing up was looking through family photo albums…
“Urban On My Tongue” is an exhibition that acts as an introduction to the discourse on urban culture in South Africa, as analysed by Linathi Makanda. In collaboration with three photographers from distinct provinces, Makanda aims to explore the cultural atmosphere within these regions. She works alongside these photographers to capture their perspectives and foster a visual dialogue.
Rebecca MarimutuBaltimore/NYChttps://marimutu.com/Instagram: @ebecca_ray
Did you always know you wanted to be a creative and a photographer?
REBECCA: While creativity has always been an integral part of my identity, I didn’t initially know of the possibility of pursuing it as a career. My journey towards becoming a photographer was an unexpected one. I was passionate about painting as a child, stealing my sisters’ acrylic paints and painting behind my mother’s headboard. And although I had been around cameras since I was a child, photography wasn’t the path I had envisioned for myself; I didn’t know how to make it work for me yet.
Matthew J. BaileyWashington, D.C. USAhttps://www.matthewjbaileyart.com/Instagram: @matthewjbailey_
Did you always know you wanted to be a creative and a photographer?
MATTHEW: Subconsciously, I think I’ve always had a connection to art. I remember growing up surrounded by art, especially old family photographs, and I was always enamored by them. From a young age…
Nate PalmerNew York, NYhttps://natelangstonpalmer.comInstagram: @langstonpalmer