JaLeel is a fine art/commercial photographer raised out of Paterson, New Jersey. They are primarily lens-based who aspires to be an exhibiting gallery artist and editorial photographer shooting the experience of black existence with portraiture. Their practice studies race and t...he gaze of black subjects. Their inspiration is focused on the idea of showing the importance of specific moments that need to be photographed within black lives existing in space, whether it be created/everyday spaces, and how that can overpower the ideals of what a perfect photograph is. They are interested in exploring the idea of set design in relation to photography and what it means to capture someone's presence and how an environment can influence and empower a photograph. JaLeel currently lives and works in Providence, RI, and studies Photography and Sculpture at Rhode Island School of Design. Show more