ISABELLA
AMANKWA-JONES


Isabella Amankwa-Jones, Untitled, 2026, Digital chromogenic print. Courtesy the artist. 
Isabella Amankwa-Jones,, Silver Mama, 2026. Digital chromogenic print. Courtesy the artist.


ARTIST STATEMENT



I work in monochrome for the majority of my photographs. I appreciate the hues and gradients that come from shades of black and gray. Taking photos has been a way to train my eye while also searching for more than what immediately meets my eye. I like to photograph people of color that I recognize on 125th Street in Harlem and other familiar places. I want people to see their community, part of their daily lives, in my “raw,” formal portraits. For me, taking pictures outside brings out a state of serenity that comes with being in nature.  


ABOUT THE ARTIST


Isabella Amankwa-Jones attends Columbia Secondary School in Harlem, where she has lived for most of her life after moving from Chicago. Next fall, she will be attending Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. She enjoys creating character-driven work, bringing original figures to life through different media and a semi-realistic style influenced by cartoons. She is particularly drawn to the boldness of black ink and the contrast it provides. Her focus tends to be on figures rather than backgrounds. Through photography, she has developed a stronger sense of framing, allowing her to construct the scenes she envisions. 




FROM ISABELLA’S CAMERA ROLL


Isabella Amankwa-Jones, Lobby, 2026.
Smartphone camera photograph. Courtesy the artist.