Artist Statement
Shakira Pendley
Social Justice Posters
When viewers see my poster, I want them to be reminded of how important unity is during these hard times. When you hold hands with someone, there is a sense of togetherness. There's nothing better than feeling safe, whole, and confident knowing you have your people standing with you. Even if the whole world is against us, blocking us like a brick wall, when you hold hands with someone, there is a sense of togetherness. Nothing else matter when we have each other.
When people see my poster, I want them to see and understand what gender equality actually looks like. I hate the way that women and members of the LGBTQ+ community are degraded and shamed. It's almost like nobody else fights for us, unless they are one of us. We need more justice and more respect. I chose the primary image because different races are represented, showing that equality should be for all men and women, including those that are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Equality is for everyone.
Inclusive Stock Photography
The Inclusive Stock Photography project was designed to address the scarcity of people of color, multicultural people, and LGBTQ+ people in commercial stock photography by creating professional-quality images of these underrepresented people in a variety of everyday settings, including romantic and platonic relationships, family, and communities.