Feb 15

Feb 15 Black History Month: Gadisse Lee

Words by Gadisse Lee

Photo Edited by Kelly Woodyard

My self-portraits capture the essence of my life's journey, drawing inspiration from my childhood and experiences of loss and displacement. Shot outdoors, they embrace the softness of natural light and ground me.

An important element of my self-portraiture is color. I approach color with intentionality, using it not only to enhance the visual appeal of my images but also to convey meaning and emotion. I am drawn to colors that evoke feelings of nostalgia, comfort, tranquility, or melancholy. In each photograph, I carefully consider the interplay of colors, seeking to create harmonious compositions that captivate the eye and engage the imagination. Color serves as a powerful tool for storytelling, allowing me to communicate complex ideas and emotions with clarity and depth.

This is an ongoing project which reflects my evolution and serves as a creative outlet for processing life's moments, both good and bad. As I continue to journey through the ebbs and flows of life, each new experience becomes an inspiration for my artistic expression, shaping and molding my self-portraits into a living, breathing narrative of growth and self-awareness. In this way, my art becomes not only a reflection of who I am, but a roadmap of where I've been and where I'm destined to go.