American photographer Emerald Arguelles is an internationally known visual artist recognized for her explorations and celebration of Blackness in all its beauty, power and resilience. Emerald’s photography reconstructs her experiences of growing up surrounded by women, particularly in the South, who embodied confidence, grandeur, hustle, and extravagance.

Her work both reimagines the past and looks to the future for Black Americans, creating what she calls an “imagined domestic fantasy” through a mesmerizing combination of fashion editorial and fine art.

I currently live in Savannah, Georgia. My work centers around the Black experience in multiple facets, and has been featured in BuzzFeed News, Vogue Italia, and The Washington Post. 

How did you arrive at your current photographic practice? 

After I got out of the Marine Corps, I needed a sense of individualism and a sense of self. Being a photographer allowed me to reinvent myself and heal through the beauty of Blackness. 

Tell us a bit about your creative process.  

My creative process is very hectic. I move very carefully to ensure that everything is correct, such as location, makeup, and clothing. Still, I have seen that a sense of freedom in my subjects breaks through and allows for looseness and comfortability. 

What are your inspirations or influences?

My inspirations and influences come from my experiences, environment, and community.

What draws you to the stories you aim to tell through your work?

My absence of things influences my work. The ability to reimagine my life fuels the stories that I tell through my work. 

A lot of your work feels rooted in a sense of place. How important is this idea of place to you and your work? 

I believe moving from New Orleans to Ohio influences my work more than I realize. I lacked many things, but as an adult, I can create the world I want. 

What does well-being mean to you, and what do you practice? 

Well-being to me means doing what is best for me in the right way. I’m not religious, but practicing the fundamentals of being a good human being has always served me well. 

What are you working on next?
I am graduating college, elevating my craft, and experimenting with my work more. 

Website: https://emeraldarguelles.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emeraldarguelles/