Preston Gannaway
Preston Gannaway
Selfies, from the series Out in the Hood, 2012, 16×20 C-print, edition of 15
Teddy and Chris on air mattress #1, from the series Out in the Hood, 2013, 16×20 C-print, edition of 15
Artist Statment
‘Out in the Hood’ This project documents the lives of young, black gay men in the South. Here in this predominantly conservative area of Virginia, they are part of a vibrant community that often goes unnoticed. For some of them, the added minority of their sexuality doesn’t compare to the challenges they face brought on by race and economics. I spent more than a year documenting Tavaris “Teddy Ebony” Edwards. His individual experience leaves us with a broader reflection of society: the narrow divide between working-class and poverty, the search for love and belonging, the plight of many young black men in America. www.prestongannaway.com
Preston Gannaway (b. 1977) is an independent documentary photographer known for her intimate stories about families and subcultures. Her story on the St. Pierre family, Remember Me, was awarded the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for feature photography. Her work has been honored in numerous other national and international competitions including Pictures of the Year International, NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism, Critical Mass, American Photography and Communication Arts. Preston’s photographs have been exhibited both in the United States and abroad. She is a regular lecturer and has served as guest faculty in a variety of educational workshops. A native of North Carolina, she is currently based in Oakland, California, accepting editorial and commercial work while pursuing long-term projects.
