Ayana V. Jackson

Place: Livingston

Born: 1977

Biography:

Ayana V. Jackson is an American photographer and filmmaker. She was born on May 14, 1977 in Livingston, New Jersey, United States. She received her B.A. in Sociology from Spelman College in 1999. In 2005, she studied critical theory and large format printing at the University of Arts Berlin. She is best known for her focus on Contemporary Africa and the African Diaspora, most notably the series 'African by Legacy, Mexican by Birth', 'Leapfrog (a bit of the Other) Grand Matron Army', and 'Archival Impulse'. Her work examines the complexities of photographic representation and the role of the camera in constructing identity. She uses performance and studio-based portraiture in her practice.