Excerpt from Exhibition Statement:

Black people are often asked to shrink their complex emotions into two categories, joy and pain; sitting high on joy as a reaction against the impact of colonization or burdened by pain that is exploited as the focal element in galleries, news, and social media. It Ain’t All Black and White is a photography exhibition that encourages us to consider emotions such as serenity, apprehension, yearning, and more. Captured by 10 dynamic photographers dedicated to documenting the fullness and complexity of Black life, this exhibition offers each of us an opportunity to see ourselves with renewed attention.

The exhibition is on view from October 4th, 2023 till February 23, 2024. I'd love for you to check out the work if you can. I'll be in attendance for the artist reception on October 25th, 5:30pm - 7:00pm EST.

If you're able to attend the reception or see the exhibition on your own time, I'm interested in hearing your opinion on my work and the entire exhibition. If you're able to attend the reception or see the exhibition on your own time, I'm interested in hearing your opinion on my work and the entire exhibition. To learn more about my work, below I've included a brief bio and artist statement. Click here for an extended biography.

Brief Bio:

Currently based in Mebane, North Carolina, Phillip “King Phill” Loken was born in Texas and has lived in various cities and towns across North Carolina since the age of four. His photography is intimately tied to his lived experiences as a Black man in the American South. He wants to capture the rich history and vibrant cultural expressions that influence his subjects' lives.  

Loken's work has been exhibited nationally. As a professional photographer, Loken has worked with a variety of organizations and companies, including the City of Raleigh, CreativeMornings, the North Carolina Museum of Art, Special Olympics North Carolina, Verizon, Walter Magazine, and Woodforest National Bank.

Artist Statement:

Black American Southerners are the genesis of African-American culture. 

I feel that what's missing in the depictions of Black Southerners is a deeper, more personal dive into their lives by one of their own. So many portrayals from non-Southerners are very superficial and miss important nuances and Black Southern cultural references. The result too often is either a total omission of Black Americans or the repetition of the same dysfunctional tropes about them. By embracing themes of authenticity, belonging, community, and pride, my work aims to challenge that narrative. Through a practice driven by conversation and research, I am making the viewer take a second look and explore more deeply the lives, influences, and viewpoints of my subjects.  It is through continued engagement with the images that the viewer gets a fuller understanding of who the subjects actually are as people. 

My work is open to adoration and commentary from all people, but I always work with the intention of a Black audience. - Phillip Loken