ARTIST STATEMENT

My work seeks to capture emotion and expression in order to foster a visceral connection between the viewer and subject. My interest is in exploring cultures, traditions, ceremonies and people in order to promote a deeper understanding of our unique humanistic tendencies, behaviors and histories.

BIOGRAPHY

Shelly R. Sessions was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and spent her childhood summers in rural Florida and eastern North Carolina. She was an attorney in private practice before becoming a documentary and street photographer. Her portrait work has been published in Country Roads Magazine and Rangefinder, and she was exhibited as part of the Women Street Photographers' group show in New York City in 2018 . Her images of New Orleans street life are on permanent public exhibition in the French Market as part of the Tricentennial Celebration. She has been mentored by Gulnara Samoilova, a former AP photographer and editor, and participated in immersive workshops with Maggie Steber, Peter Turnley, and Sam Abell. Her future work will focus on documentary stories and engagement with non-profit organizations.