About

 

Elijah Barnes (b. 2003) is a photographer and visual artist based in Chicago, Illinois. Since starting his career in 2020, he has used his work to portray contemporary life while utilizing a soft and timeless feel. Mainly known for his striking and creative conceptual portraits, his work shifts pre-existing narratives of black culture and often plays with themes of utopia. His goal is to tell black stories, create art centered around black beauty and identity, and to portray perspectives of freedom calling upon his life and his surroundings.

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

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