ARTIST STATEMENT
As a filmmaker and photographer, my work is rooted in capturing stories of community, resilience, and the human experience. Through both visual mediums, I explore themes of social justice, identity, and place, aiming to foster connection and spark conversations. My career began with documentary filmmaking, including Voices of Cabrini and 70 Acres in Chicago, documenting the displacement of Chicago’s Cabrini Green residents. These films fueled my commitment to elevating marginalized voices and exploring the impact of urban transformation. In recent years, I’ve expanded my practice into street photography and portraiture. My photography series Faces of Argyle captures the vibrant diversity of the Argyle Street Night Market in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. Through direct engagement with those being photographed, I create images that invite viewers to question whose story is being told—the subject’s, the viewer’s, or a blend of both. Whether documenting urban life or focusing on individual portraits, my work remains committed to storytelling to foster empathy and understanding. Through photography and film, I seek to create a space for reflection on the shared humanity that connects us all.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Ronit Bezalel is an award-winning photographer, writer, and filmmaker based in Chicago. Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including Windy City Times, Block Club Chicago, Modern Luxury Magazine, Chicagoist, and Gaper’s Block. She has also exhibited photography at the Chicago Center for Photojournalism, Christopher Art Gallery, Everybody’s Coffee, R. Public House, and the PO Box Collective Gallery. Ronit is known for her impactful documentaries, Voices of Cabrini and 70 Acres in Chicago, which chronicle the demolition of Chicago’s Cabrini-Green public housing and the displacement of a Black community from the city center.
© Ronit Bezalel