EP 47 • Joseph Louis Sherman Jr.
About Joseph
Joseph Louis Sherman Jr. is a multidisciplinary artist living and working in Los Angeles. Sherman’s practice is rooted in his photographic works, both original and found. Typical themes of Sherman’s works are Afro-diasporic imagery, nuanced basketball culture, rhythm, relationships and color theory. As a self-proclaimed poet of basketball Sherman often uses the metaphorical nature of the sport to locate himself within these topics with a balance of curiosity, critique, and celebration.
Show Notes:
Website: josephlsherman.com
Where are you based?: Los Angeles, CA
Camera Brand: Canon
Most Influential Photographer:
Impossible to answer but the works of James Van Der Zee, Gordon Parks, Roy DeCarava, Carrie Mae Weems, Chi Modu, etc come to mind. Contemporary? LaToya Ruby Frazier and Deana Lawson.
Favorite Lens:
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM ~ This lens accurately communicates how I see the world. It's a sharp lens as well. It's the lens that i'm most comfortable with when it comes to expressing myself as a photographer.
Which field of photography is the most diverse? Least diverse?
I don't have enough information to answer this. But with the rise of social media it has been beautiful seeing the works of so many black photographers around the world.
What do you consider the biggest hurdle for Black photographers today?
Being mentally colonized to believe that we have to be Gordon Parks to be recognized and appreciated. It's important that we know our subjectivity is our art. Our means/modes of expression is just as valuable as any artist working in any medium of any time period.
What is the quote that you live by?
"Dance beautifully in the box you are comfortable dancing in."~Kobe
Instagram: @josephlouissherman
