soul of a man

a pictorial collection of artis’ father and brothers, made in southampton county, virginia.

personal project · creative direction · documentary editorial & stills

the origin - the collection began as a photo essay for artis’ father's birthday — a quiet "day in the life" portrait of him at home in southampton county, virginia. it expanded from there into a sustained documentary study of her father and brothers, made on the land where nat turner led the 1831 slave rebellion.

the frame - soul of a Man sits at the intersection of three traditions — fine-art portraiture, documentary photography, and the black american family album. faith, family and fun, set against the long history of the place. the work juxtaposes the harsh realities of society with hope and raw moments of beauty in daily life.

the output - released as a printed zine in 2023, distributed through independent bookshops and by request. digital collection lives on artis' portfolio and instagram. the project marks a return to the disciplines that started her career - styling.

credits - creative direction, photography & styling: krista s. artís · subjects: the sumblin family · location: southampton county, virginia