Lion’s Shadow: In Tribute to Jules Lion
December 7-31, 2019
Opening: Saturday, Dec 7, 6-9pm
Lion’s Shadow: In Tribute to Jules Lion highlights the vibrant work being created by African-American photographers in Louisiana. The exhibition was curated by Brent Lewis, who is a Photo Editor at The New York Times and co-founder of Diversify Photo. The featured artists are:
Lorenzo Baker
Durado Brooks
Cedric Ellsworth
Delaney George
Prosper Jones
Juliana Kasumu
Benicia King
Mariana Sheppard
Leslie-Claire Spillman
Bruce Williams
Olivia Vega
Lion’s Shadow will open with a public reception on December 7 and remain on view through December 30, 2019.
The eleven photographers featured in Lion’s Shadow: In Tribute to Jules Lion were selected by Brent Lewis from an open call to Louisiana based photographers. Several images by each photographer will be shown, giving viewers a chance to better engage with each artist’s unique vision. Their works encompass a range of stylistic approaches, from documentary to conceptual, black & white to color, traditional film photography to collage. The projects address topics ranging from the deeply personal to celebrations of community, timely political concerns, and more. Collectively, the works showcase the strength and breadth of creativity that black artists are bringing to photography, right here, right now.
The exhibition’s title honors the legacy of Jules Lion, a French-born free man of color who is recognized as the first African-American photographer. In 1840, Jules Lion introduced the daguerreotype process to New Orleans in an exhibit at the St. Charles Museum. Not only was this the first documented exhibition of photographs in Louisiana, it was only the second such display of daguerreotypes in the United States. His life story exemplifies a significant intersection of black history, photo history, and New Orleans history. This exhibition aims to celebrate and amplify the continuation of that creative lineage, as realized through the lens of contemporary practitioners.
About Stella Jones Gallery
Stella Jones Gallery was founded in 1996 as a venue for artists of the African diaspora to exhibit superior works of art. The gallery serves educational goals through lectures, panel discussions, intimate gallery talks and exhibitions with artists in attendance.
Stella Jones Gallery takes very seriously the responsibility of providing collectors, both private and corporate, with art that is high in aesthetic quality and strong in investment potential. The gallery is equally motivated to raise the aspirations of African American youths by providing them with a better understanding of their heritage through the visual arts.
Stella Jones Gallery endeavors to be an important site of both cultural and economic development in the local, national, and international arts community.
