Look Into Brian Fraser’s Lens Of Black History, Black Culture And Jersey City

Photo by Adrienne J. Romero / SOC Images.

Be loud. Be proud. Be unapologetic.

Those are some messages behind Brian Fraser’s recent work that was featured in SMUSH Gallery’s “Just Black?” exhibit in Jersey City. The local photojournalist and visual editor showcased a photo of his partner working through her hair—it was adorned with colorful clips that parted sections of her curls—which is a process that can go on for days, and isn’t always manufactured for just beauty; sometimes survival too.

Fraser talked to Slice of Culture about the need to honor Black history and Black culture, especially in today’s society, and how Jersey City’s injustices and beauty have impacted his work.

“The significance is to honor the groundwork that formerly enslaved people laid for this country… People were stolen from their land and [still] created a safe space, a safe haven and history for this nation…,” Fraser told Slice of Culture.

“The importance is to be loud, be proud [and] be unapologetic and to make sure that we celebrate how this nation was founded… The current administration is actively trying to suppress [and] erase that information.”

“Just Black?” was a community-curated art show by local Black artists in honor of Black History Month. It ran on Saturdays and Sundays from Jan. 17 to Feb. 15 at the gallery’s 340 Summit Avenue location.

Directed by SMUSH’s Aurelia Luciano, the art show featured:

Artistic Afro
Gnarly Casual
Kris Charlery
Azzie Contreras
Samuel Edme
Denise Ellison
Breanna Felix
Brian Fraser
Yazmine Graham
Ibn
KâzéJewelz
Aurelia Luciano
Rayna Lucier
Myeisha Miller
Ricardo Raphael
Elianny Rodriguez
Imani Starr
Linsey Thezard

Pieces were being purchased quickly within the first few days of opening, and Fraser’s photo was one that quickly went.

When asked what feeling he had at the exhibit’s opening day, he simply said, “warmth” and “openness.”

“It didn’t matter whether you were a world-renowned artist or someone who was experimenting in their home, you were welcome to show art and be celebrated. And that is the essence of SMUSH, is that we’re here for the community, we’re here for everyone. And we felt the love,” he added.

(Courtesy of Aurelia Luciano / SMUSH Gallery)

And “love” is another message behind Fraser’s artwork.

He explained that the photo started off as an experiment at home and is now part of a longer series. He noticed his partner was always working through her hair: washing, styling and more that can be “intense” and take days.

Still, her going through that process encapsulates her “labor of love.”

“I think it highlights the work that goes behind presenting themselves to the world. Black bodies often have to go through a preparation sometimes to be able to exist and survive in today’s world where they’re often judged and perceived as something else. And that process is super important,” he said.

“People don’t understand what goes on, and it’s something that should be celebrated, should be highlighted, but also noted that like this isn’t something that is manufactured for beauty all the time. Sometimes it is based in survival and it’s a must because other people will judge.”

Fraser, a Black Guyanese-American, was born and raised in New Jersey.

He holds degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology and Rutgers Business School. Professionally, his work has been featured in The New York Times, NBC News, Gothamist, Business Insider and Wall Street Journal, to name a few. He also frequently collaborates with the annual All About Us Festival, a Juneteenth celebration in Liberty State Park.

Fraser found his way to Jersey City about 13 years ago. He first moved to the Journal Square area and now lives in the Lafayette neighborhood. Sitting inside Ko Cafe—a local cafe that is rooted in West African culture—he smirked while reminiscing on the city’s impact.

“Jersey City has almost defined how I see the world and how I see art, and that has a direct impact on where I am today.
I wouldn’t be the artist that I am without Jersey City without seeing the diverse fabric of cultures, without seeing the injustices, the gentrification, the urban development, but also the beauty, the communities, the culture and the people who echo and mimic America in general. So seeing that has opened my eyes to the world and how similar this is everywhere else. Jersey City’s been a foundation for that.”
– Brian W. Fraser

Embedded in community, Fraser has also started the Area of Refuge, which is a print publication that documents Jersey City’s changing landscape through documentary photography, portraiture and architectural studies. It was produced through a series of workshops, led by artists, historians and organizers with local residents. You can purchase “Area of Refuge: Capturing Change — Issue 01” here.

The next Area of Refuge is coming up in June and is supported through JCast, or Jersey City Art & Studio Tour.

Additionally, Fraser will soon be releasing a book that celebrates his time over his past decade in the Hudson County city.

“It’s a slow kind of meditation and observation of how beautiful this city is,” he explained.

And Fraser encourages aspiring BIPOC artists and creatives to do the same; never stop expressing themselves, experimenting and creating.

“I think that sometimes we feel like, yes, while money is an objective, your voice matters in ways that you wouldn’t really understand yet,” he added.

“So continue to experiment, continue to write, continue to create, continue to make images and document the times that we’re in, because again, we’re actively up against a world that is trying to erase that. And the more that we document, the more that we have evidence to show what the truth is. And so I will say continue to do the things that you’re doing to show light on your world and that’ll be the truth for the rest of the world as well.”