Columbus artist’s photos of Black life recognized by Vogue
If you ask photographer Brielle Jolie Smith what she likes to capture in her work, she’ll say the idea of love, as well as Black people simply “living their dayto-day lives.”
So, it’s not surprising she found inspiration in watching her sister Brittany Nacole breastfeed her daughter, Z Schaeffer, on a beach in Malibu last summer.
“We went last minute and it was cloudy, but then, all of a sudden, the sun came out,” said Smith, 22, of Downtown Columbus, who also is a mixed media artist and student at the Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD).
“(My sister) is such a powerful woman. I look up to her so much. So, I really wanted to capture her light. She’s such a caring individual, but also strong. And I wanted to show her carefree.”
That photo has made waves beyond the beach and Smith’s hometown. On Jan. 30, it was one of two shots by Smith featured on Vogue’s website as part of the “Best of Photovogue” collection, which can be viewed at vogue.com/ photovogue/photos/best.
“I honestly didn’t think I was going to get in,” said Smith, who goes by Brielle Jolie professionally. “I was freaking out and I was calling my mom. It was crazy. And I went to class and was just sitting there like, ‘No way.’”
Owned by media company Condé Nast, Photovogue provides a platform for artists around the world to showcase their photos across 32 markets, and potentially have their work published or commissioned by brands and commercial partners.
Photovogue’s mission is to “champion talent, reach into historically excluded communities, improve visual literacy and shape a more just, ethical and inclusive visual world,” according to the website.
In addition to the photo of her sister, titled “The American dream,” Smith entered a photo of three Black women hanging out at Griggs Reservoir Park on Columbus’ West Side last July.
Titled “Friendship bracelet,” the image is just one of several Smith took at a photo shoot featuring about a dozen women.
“I wanted to do a shoot that captured Black friendship and women just being free,” Smith said. “None of them had tops on, and they were yelling and screaming positive things about themselves. … I brought food and drinks and we had music.”
Smith said the death of her grandmother, Louine Porter, one of her biggest supporters, last May prompted her to start sharing more of her work.
“Ever since then, I’ve been working on myself and working to show off these talents,” Smith said.
Smith’s art will be featured in an exhibit on April 7, from 7 to 11 p.m., at Art of Republic in the Short North. And she is on track to graduate from CCAD with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts in May.
However, she said being a minority student has been difficult.
“It’s been a challenge to say the least,” she said. “Oftentimes, I don’t feel heard.”
But she said she has found strength in her church, family and community.
“People are like, ‘You deserve this. You’ve worked hard. You’ve earned this,’” she said. “It’s just so refreshing to hear that.” ethompson@dispatch.com @miss_ethompson