ARTIST STATEMENT
My photography practice shows the profound impact of labor, age, and time on individuals. As a queer woman, I approach my work to expand binaries and question societal structures. I focus on infrastructure, from the buildings and roads to our bodily autonomy and food accessibility.
In my series, “Expanding Agriculture,” I strive to subvert the prevailing image of traditional farmers by portraying the unsung heroes of sustainable agriculture. Since 2011, I immersed myself in the world of sustainable farms, collaborating with women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA individuals who defy societal gender roles and challenge the dominance of factory farming.
Residing and teaching in rural Ohio, my project holds significance as it aims to dismantle stereotypes and preconceptions surrounding identity and agriculture. The conventional portrayal of a farmer as a cis-white male figure perpetuates inaccurate histories. By challenging these biases, I foster a more inclusive and representative narrative. Through my work, I empower the farmers and provoke contemplation in the viewer by subverting the dominant gaze.
In addition to photographic exploration, my practice embraces social engagement. I organize exhibits and panels for farmers as a platform to share their experiences and emphasize the crucial role of queerness in shaping the future of agriculture and our planet.
“Expanding Agriculture” addresses the urgent need for sustainable agricultural practices. Through the medium of photography, I aim to ignite social and environmental change by shedding light on the principles of food justice and community resilience.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Charlotte Woolf (she/they) is a queer artist and educator with a background in photography and gender studies. Woolf’s practice is about the implications of infrastructure on our society, including buildings, bodies, labor, and food. Woolf received their MFA at Purchase College, School of Art + Design, and BA from Kenyon College. Woolf exhibited at AIR Gallery, Equity Projects, Paradice Palase at Future Fair, and the International Center of Photography; attended residencies at ACRE (IL/WI), SOMA (CDMX), Wassaic Project (NY), and ChaShaMa (NY); and received an Honorable Mention for the Lenscratch Student Prize. Raised in Charlotte, NC, Woolf lives in Gambier, OH, where they are a Visiting Assistant Professor of Studio Art at Kenyon College. They have two black pugs named Peach and Blueberry Cobbler.
© Charlotte Woolf