Contemporary photographer Ayana V. Jackson to speak at MW Gallery, June 28

FLINT, Michigan — Contemporary photographer Ayana V. Jackson will headline an Artist Talk at MW Gallery on Saturday, June 28, at 2:00 p.m. The event offers a unique opportunity for art lovers to hear directly from Jackson, a trailblazer in contemporary photography, as she discusses her creative process, inspirations, and the powerful themes she explores in her work.

Jackson, who splits her time between Brooklyn, NY, and Johannesburg, South Africa, is known for using her photography to challenge historical narratives and question the authenticity of colonial-era imagery.

Her work deconstructs 19th- and early 20th-century portraiture, with a particular focus on how photography has contributed to the development of socially stratified identities. Through her lens, she seeks to decolonize the Black body, reclaiming space for narratives often marginalized in traditional historical accounts.

Central to her practice is the exploration of race, gender, and reproduction, using her own body to represent historical figures and retell their stories. Jackson's work has been collected by renowned institutions, including The Studio Museum in Harlem, The Newark Museum, and The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art, where her 2023 exhibition From the Deep: In the Wake of Drexciya debuted.

Jackson's Figuratively Speaking exhibition at MW Gallery, running from February 14 through August 23, 2025, features two of her pieces drawn from the Mott-Warsh Collection. The show emphasizes how contemporary artists use the human form to explore identity and social commentary.

In a blend of body language, facial expressions, and gestures, these works invite viewers to complete the narratives, pushing the boundaries of how identity and shared human experience are communicated through art.

This event is free and open to the public and will take place at MW Gallery, located at 815 S. Saginaw Street in Flint. For more information, including gallery hours and upcoming events, visit MW Gallery's website or call (810) 835-4900.