Ryan Brown
The People of Harlem
Moving from Kansas to New York City was a huge culture shock, but in the best way. Growing up in a small town, I was one of the few Black kids, always conscious of being the minority in a predominantly white space. When I arrived in Harlem, I felt an immediate sense of belonging, as though the city was embracing me. The community here, with its vibrant energy and cultural richness, has become a profound source of inspiration for my work.
This project is a personal ode to Harlem, a celebration of its people, its culture, and its resilience. Each image attempts to capture the rhythm of everyday life—the textures, colors, faces, and stories that make Harlem feel like home. I chose to present these images as a tangible quilt, a nod to the deep cultural significance quilting holds in Black history.
Quilting has long been a way for Black women to pass down family histories, cultural traditions, and even hidden messages of survival. They served as covert maps on the Underground Railroad, documented genealogies, and recorded life when written records were not available or possible. Quilting circles also created spaces of refuge, where women could gather, share stories, and preserve community during times of hardship and displacement.
By incorporating quilting into this project, I’m drawing upon that legacy of resilience, connection, and storytelling. The quilt becomes a metaphor for Black life—each square representing a person, a story, or a moment in time, pieced together to form a collective whole.
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About Ryan
Ryan Madison is a multidisciplinary artist based in New York City, originally from Lawrence, Kansas. Currently, she is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Photography at the Fashion Institute of Technology, with double minors in Film and Art History. Madison’s work primarily explores the representation of the Black diaspora, merging both commercial and fine art practices. Throughout her body of work she explores narratives of experience that are specific to the black community through detail and nuance referencing beauty standards, third places and themes of identity, capturing the shared experience of growing up Black in America. Madison has had her work exhibited at the FIT Museum and will receive her BFA in 2025. Looking ahead, they aim to establish themselves as a working creative in both the commercial and fine arts fields.
Presented by BKC & ASMP NY, The Bridge is a groundbreaking 16-week mentorship program for 18-26 year old emerging photographers and creative artists. To learn more about The Bridge, CLICK HERE.