Photo Fairs New York
Black Lunch Table panel:
The Meaning of Beauty: Black Portraiture as Memory and Marvel in the Digital Age
moderated by keondra bills-freemyn, Archives Director at Black Lunch Table
featuring Kristen Owens & Zakiya Collier
“We need to theorize the meaning of beauty in our lives so that we can educate for critical consciousness” - bell hooks, Art on My Mind
Portraiture is a critical tool that informs historical narratives and supports the preservation of memory. Interpretation of these narratives is not static but dynamic—influenced by contemporary values, interests, and critical evaluation. Reflecting on the contributions of notable visual artists Carrie Mae Weems, Latoya Ruby Frazier, Ming Smith, and Marilyn Nance, among others housed in the Black Lunch Table archives, this conversation will explore the significance of portraiture as a site of cultural preservation, archival production, and collective memory in the digital age.