Meet Sammie Saxon | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sammie Saxon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sammie, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Art was woven into the fabric of my upbringing. With an illustrator for a mother and an Uncle who painted, I was immersed in creativity from a young age. It became second nature to me, drawing me towards any creative endeavor that offered the freedom of expression.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Throughout my academic journey, I’ve grappled with the question of the purpose behind my work and why I choose to create it as I do. At times, I’ve yearned for a more complex answer, but the truth is straightforward: my work is a reflection of the environments that envelop me. As a Black man in the South, I draw inspiration from the narratives woven into the fabric of generations past, all while raising my voice against the handling of pressing social issues. In a world marked by pain and turmoil, art, particularly photography, has served as a means of protest and a catalyst for dialogue, forever igniting discussions about our shared human experience. Art isn’t just a passion for me; it’s an intrinsic part of my being. As a fashion photographer, I endeavor to discover beauty even within the realm of commercialization. Whether it’s capturing the allure of models or showcasing clothing, the underlying purpose remains to promote and sell. Yet, when I delve into my artistic endeavors, I employ the same techniques and elements to craft narratives. Surrealism emerges as the perfect medium to encapsulate the intricate and abstract journey of existence from a diverse perspective, allowing me to reimagine surreal experiences or delve into Afro-Surrealism, which centers on overcoming the struggles entrenched in our collective history and reclaiming the narrative.
Through my composites, I often seek to resurrect the fantastical tales passed down through generations within my culture—stories that may sound incredulous but are undeniably woven into our history. With my series “Faux Memories,” I utilize AI technology to blend images from family albums, collected postcards, and photographs of locations, intertwining them with historical events, thereby rewriting the narrative of our past. Why? Because we are witnessing a concerning erasure of black history from our educational systems, with books banned for daring to tell the unvarnished truth about American history. The power to shape history rests in the hands of those who control the narrative, and as it is erased, so too are the movements that have shaped us all. This prompts us to ponder what freedom will entail in the future.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ve often found myself playing host to visitors from both NYC and even Japan when they come to Columbus, GA. Positioned at a comfortable distance from Atlanta, our city offers the hustle and bustle of urban life followed by the tranquility of a smaller town. One of my favorite spots in town is Fountain City Coffee, where I frequent before shoots and hold meetings. It’s a welcoming and laid-back environment, perfect for brainstorming and creative discussions.

Given that many of my guests are models, managers, and artists, our time together often involves gathering clothing for photo shoots, preparing for shoots at my partner’s salon,Fringe Hair + Makeup Studio and exploring local galleries such as The Bo Bartlett Center, the Corn Center for the Visual Arts, and the Columbus Museum. It’s a blend of business and leisure, making the most of what our vibrant city has to offer.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Fringe Salon jess.artislife@gmail.com

Frederic O’Reilly Fine arts
foartandillustrations@gmail.com

Jaclavious Artwork
vonart2@gmail.com

Website: www.sammiesaxon.com and www.sammiesaxon.art

Instagram: @sammiesaxonstudio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sammiesaxon

Image Credits
Hair and Makeup by Jessica Nicole