Jalen Joshua Williams (b. 2000, Charleston, SC) is a photographer and visual artist whose work investigates the multitudes of Blackness in relation to the intricacies of humanity. Through portraiture and staged tableaux, Williams confronts and deconstructs harmful societal narratives, presenting visual alternatives that transcend stereotypes. Currently pursuing an MFA at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Williams’ creative journey is profoundly shaped by both historical and contemporary discussions surrounding race, masculinity, and self-representation.
His work has been exhibited throughout the American South, including his solo exhibition Where I’m Coming From at the Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery and serving as a featured artist at the Piccolo Spoleto and MOJA festivals in Charleston, SC. A recipient of the Bunting Award for Graduate Excellence and the Charleston Magazine Emerging Artist Award. He has been featured in Der Greif and in 2024, he was an artist-in-residence at The Studios at Mass MoCA.
The visual image is important to the narratives we create about ourselves and our environment, and photography is the most fulfilling way for me to explore these concepts, allowing me to create and re-create conceptual situations people can relate to visually, bridging cultural and individual boundaries in an attempt to reach a sense of familiarity.