Black Creators Curated by Black Creators

Black Creators Curated by Black Creators

For Black History Month, we invited 5 Black Creators from the Pexels community to co-curate a collection of images by other Black artists. Our goal was to create a collection of images from some of the most creative Black creators and involve artists to choose and comment on them.

The collection is made up of 36 stunning portraits and celebrates Black culture and Black joy.

We asked the creators to share some of the details behind their choices, here’s some of what they said.

Duren Williams chose this photo to add to the collection. He explained 'This womans gaze is about reclaiming the narrative and representation of women in art, media, and culture. It’s about portraying women as they see themselves or as they wish to be seen, rather than through the lens of male expectations or fantasies. It’s about acknowledging and celebrating the diversity, complexity, and agency of women, and recognizing that their experiences, desires, and perspectives are valid and valuable. It’s a way of challenging and subverting traditional, often objectifying, representations of women and creating space for a more authentic and empowering portrait.'

Joshua McKnight, a photographer specialising in accessible and high-quality Black stock photography chose this photo as part of his selection. He said, 'Everything about this image feels afro-futuristic. It’s a subtle not-so-distant future that’s not just tech, but textured and earthy. I truly enjoy the color blocks created from the background,clothing, and shadows create distinct shapes between foreground and background objects.'

Sherman Trotz chose to add this photo to the collection. He notes, ‘I love the confidence and vintage movie style feel EJ portrayed in this image. I enjoy the perspective and focus of the woman looking in the mirror at her natural beauty, while the man staring off into the distance while holding the mirror for her gives the impression that he knows it’s all about her. It tells a visually captivating story in a unique and creative way that expresses individuality in black culture and beauty.'

Head to our Discover Page to check out the amazing collection of work by these Black creators. A massive thank you to all of those involved in creating the collection: Sherman Trotz, Duren Williams, Joshua McKnight, Jakayla Toney and Reyna Montgomery.