ARTIST STATEMENT
As a Black photographer, I am not afforded the luxury of rose-colored glasses. My existence and artistry are shaped by a juxtaposition of lenses that have historically defined my beauty, worth, and humanity. In 1851, Sojourner Truth delivered a powerful message to America with her question, “Ain’t I a Woman?” She addressed the blurred lines of humanity in our country, challenging why her existence was not seen in the same light as others. Through my work, I carry forward this inquiry, focusing my prime lens on the often overlooked beauty and dignity of my subjects—individuals who, like Truth, have been marginalized by a society that dims their light. My photography seeks to place us front and center, bathed in the glowing light that has been denied us for too long. I strive to capture the essence of humanity that Sojourner Truth so poignantly demanded, showing the world that our beauty, worth, and humanity are undeniable. In every frame, I challenge the narratives imposed upon us, redefining how we are seen and, more importantly, how we see ourselves. My art is a testament to our resilience, a celebration of our existence, and a reclaiming of the light that belongs to us.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Truth, Beauty, and Pride are the themes of photographer, Natalie Jackson’s work. They come together to tell gripping stories of Black life, past and present. Having lived in Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta, and Charlotte, she gathered experiences, education, and history and returned to the Midwest. She has worked as a staff photographer for Good News Magazine in Atlanta, Georgia to a medical photographer for Soderstrom Skin Institute in Peoria, Illinois. Years after receiving a Marketing degree she went back to school to study photography, a lifelong passion. Her long time hobby quickly became a means for expression. Notable projects were a shoot for Art AIDS Africa, Jane Fonda’s Lost Boys of Sudan project, and a birthday shoot for jazz artist Freddy Cole. She currently resides in Peoria, Illinois where she sits on the Board of Directors at the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria and the Central Illinois Jazz Society. She has a studio and gallery in her father, artist, Preston Jackson’s building, the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria. She shoots, sells, and displays her artwork there. Her most widely known body of work, Crowns of Empowerment, is a love letter to the Black woman who is often neglected and disrespected. It is a series of empowering pieces, highlighting the importance of the Black woman’s role throughout history. This exhibition opened in the spring of 2017 and continues to travel and educate today.
© Natalie Jackson