Maya June Mansour

MAYA JUNE MANSOUR is a photographer with roots in Black America, Palestine, and Iran. Her work explores themes of healing, beauty, and justice. Maya June has collaborated with Participant Media, Converse, the Getty, For Freedoms, Collective for Black Iranians, and more. Maya is one of the co-founders of Black Image Center, a community photography space in Los Angeles that redistributes storytelling resources from the creative and entertainment industries in Hollywood to LA’s Black residents.

Kalena Yiaueki

KALENA YIAUEKI is an executive producer with a a focus in Fashion and Film. She is a founding member of the Black Image Center and serves as the President. Currently, she is making a film that delves into her family's intricate relationship with race, a project that encompasses extensive archiving and the nuanced exploration of personal inventory and identity through imagery. From a young age, Kalena's love of image was nurtured in her childhood home, where she spent countless hours in her mother's darkroom hidden behind the laundry room. At the Black Image Center, Kalena believes in the importance of its mission — to reclaim and amplify Black narratives through photography and film. Her passion for visual storytelling is not just a personal journey but a communal endeavor. She is dedicated to sharing the freedom and joy she has found in image creation, mentoring a new generation of storytellers. Kalena has found a home and purpose in her role at the Black Image Center, fostering a space where emerging artists can find their voice and contribute to the rich tapestry of LA's Black history and culture.

Samone Kidane

Samone Zena Kidane is a photographer and filmmaker renowned for using her art to shape and reflect the world as she envisions it. Her work, which includes both personal projects and commercial assignments, demonstrates her belief in the power of photography to preserve memories and alter perceptions. Zena's photography is a blend of narrative and exploration, focusing on the unseen and highlighting the beauty in the everyday. Her recent participation in the 2023 Skowhegan Artist Residency exemplifies her commitment to artistic growth and exploration. Through her lens, Samone Zena Kidane invites viewers to reimagine their surroundings, offering a fresh perspective on the world. Her work is more than just imagery; it's a journey towards a more empathetic and imaginative future.

Zamar Velez

Zamar is a photographer based in Los Angeles.

Blessing Greer-Mathurin

Blessing Greer Mathurin, born in Los Angeles, CA, and based in the same city, is a multi-hyphenate art worker and grant writer. She perceives curatorial practice as an extension of conceptual art and memory making. Emerging from experiences in pop-ups, collectives, art fairs, gallery sitting, exhibition registration, and art assisting, Mathurin's practice is imbued with a kaleidoscopic view of the power of exhibition making. Her unique tonality is meant to be felt by a broad capacity of people within community, institutional, and private contexts.