Meet McKenzie Grant-Gordon | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with McKenzie Grant-Gordon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi McKenzie, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
I love a good quote! I probably have thousands stored on my phone in my notes, photo library, and Twitter drafts! My favorite and probably the most impactful for me thus far is actually a portion of a poem my mother gave me a copy of when I started high school. The poem is called Invictus, written by William Ernest Henley. My favorite quote would be the final two lines of the piece: “I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.”

I have been holding onto those words for years hoping one day I could feel them fully. The freedom of adulthood and really giving yourself space to figure it all out (the phase I’m in now) has finally fulfilled that desire. At times it just feels like life happens to you. Everything gets a bit beyond your control and in the confusion, doubt creeps in. You begin to listen to voices other than your own for guidance. Follow paths that worked for others, but aren’t necessarily what was meant for you. There were times that I couldn’t even see or hear myself clearly. Now I’m giving myself grace and time to grow in who I want to be.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a kid, I think I always knew the world I wanted to be a part of I just didn’t know in what capacity. Photography is the passion I have been running with for now. I would say my photographic work is rooted in nostalgia and infused with fantasies of the future. I speak to notions of heritage, community, and transformation in my images. My practice embraces a soulful vibrancy and beauty in black identities and experiences that I hope people can feel in the work and resonate with. Photography and creative direction are great for now, but I see so many new things I want to pursue in the future.

Professionally, I am still not quite where I want to be yet, there are many miles to go! I’m constantly learning new ways to approach my art and my business. Lately, I’ve been focused on commissions and print sales to fund some personal projects for the rest of 2022. To get to this stage of taking myself, my art, and my desires seriously there were and continue to be many obstacles. Most of my own creation.

Doubt has probably been the biggest challenge I’ve had to overcome of late. Growing up I was told greatness was an expectation, not an exception. The effect of that belief was exacerbated by the digital age I was brought up in. This content-driven universe where anyone can be rich, famous, and have millions of followers can be so overwhelming. There is a persistent feeling of “I’m not doing enough” or “I’m simply not enough”. What I am realizing now is that there are so many different versions of success and just as many roads to get you there. You alone get to define it and not rely on someone else’s framework. Making moves out of fear and uncertainty instead of just creating for passion’s sake ruled me for so long. I’m excited about what is to come now that i’m shifting my mindset.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’ve been out a bit more lately, but I’m a homebody at my core so a week full of events whew…ok! New York is becoming a second home for me, but I’m still finding my favorite spots so let’s do a week in DC because that’s HOME!

In DC, there are some little spots near Howard where I went to school that I love! I feel like we’d hang out and do book shopping at Sankofa first. Although they have good drinks, I love Turning Natural for any smoothies or juice so we’d go there! Gotta hit some museums of course as we’re in the land of the Smithsonian! The Women in Arts Museum is one of my favorites, but it is sadly closed for renovations so I’d suggest the National Gallery of Art.

Fish in the Hood on Georgia Ave for some fried catfish, hush puppies, literally all the things would definitely be on the list as well. If the weather is nice a little walk over to Malcolm X Park for a picnic is a must. I love going to concerts and on any given day there is live music somewhere in the city. Wild Days at the Eaton Hotel, the Eaton in general, usually host some great events and after moves so that’s also where I would be at least one night during that week.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d have to say the women in my life! From my grandmother to my mother. From my aunts to cousins and close friends. My family is from Jamaica, but I am a part of the first generation born and raised in Maryland so I was still blessed to be exposed to so many new worlds and cultures by my mother’s guiding hand. Lessons from her upbringing as well as her love for art and language and a thirst for knowledge were instilled in me and that fuels my creative spirit. Much like my mother, the women I surround myself with supply me with endless inspiration. They’ve taught me so much about life, about love, about passion, and just about believing in yourself. They are the ones I create the work for and about so my shout-out goes to them.

Website: https://www.eleven0six.gallery/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eleven0six/

Other: email: eleven0sixgallery@gmail.com

Image Credits
All images by McKenzie Grant-Gordon