A Lineage of Home

A Lineage of Home is a collage series that explores a history of Black life in Pittsburgh. I call back to stories I heard growing up, my own lived experiences, and research on the region to render scenes that explore a complex relationship to home. My black and white photographs form the background of the collages while found images complete the scenes. Each of the seven pieces focuses on a specific place, idea, or moment of impact for Black Pittsburghers, from the city’s deep jazz legacy, to the impact of urban renewal and deindustrialization, to present day battles against gentrification. Together they center Black interior and communal life against the backdrop of the built and natural environment, and within the context of systemic pressures. It’s a story of people, place, memory, and identity, and of making life in the midst of ever evolving circumstances.