About

 

Elijah Barnes (b. 2003) is a Chicago-based photographer and visual artist whose lens captures the poetry of contemporary life with a dreamlike, ethereal touch. Since embarking on his artistic journey in 2020, he has crafted a visual language that reimagines black culture, weaving together narratives that pulse with depth, elegance, and redefined possibility. Renowned for his evocative conceptual portraits, Barnes conjures a realm where beauty, identity, and freedom intertwine—his work a tapestry of black stories, seen through a lens that both honors and transcends reality. Through his art, he shapes visions of utopia, drawing inspiration from the richness of his surroundings and the essence of lived experience. His work has been exhibited nationally in esteemed venues such as EXPO Chicago, The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, and The Art Academy of Cincinnati, among others.

Education

2024 BS, Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL

Exhibitions

2025

Solo

  • Love & Paranoia, Tangerine Gallery, Chicago, IL, Feb 21 - Mar 21

Group

  • Between Us, McKinley Foundation at The University Of Illinois, Champaign, IL, Jan 30 - Mar 16

  • LENS 2025, Perspective Gallery, Evanston, IL, Mar 8 - 30

  • EXPO Chicago, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL, Apr 24-27

2024

Group

  • Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL, Jan 15 - Apr 21

  • Indelible Imprints, Gallery 90220, Los Angeles, CA, Jun 14 – 30

  • Another First Impression, Art Academy of Cincinnati SITE 1212, Cincinnati, OH, Sep 27 - Nov 1

2023

Group

  • Season Two Gallery Exhibition, FOURTUNEHOUSE Art Center, Chicago, IL, Jul 1 - Aug 15

2022

Group

  • 8x10, PUBLICS Gallery, Online, Nov 29 - Dec 31

Talks

2025

  • LENS 2025, Virtual, Mar 20.

  • Between Us, With Asa Featherstone, IV, University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, Champaign, Illinois, Jan 30.

Awards

  • LENS 2025 International Photography Exhibition Juror’s Award

Bibliography

Print

  • MIDTONES Photo Magazine, “Volume 1”, 2024

Selected Website Publications