This Photo Series Is a Portal to New Dimensions of Black Life

Church of Broken Piecesis a photo series by Philadelphia-based artist, Shawn Theodore, that celebrates the African diaspora in mysterious and dynamic ways.

The series recently wrapped up its exhibition at Richard Beavers Gallery in Brooklyn, where he wanted to envision the connection the black community has with spirit through breathtaking images.

As Theodore began to research and conceptualize this series in 2012, he realized that the African American community lacks a real throughline of mythology. He knew he was onto something and sought to work in a space where his questions of exploration live in the 'because of' space, instead of the 'what if' space that you'll find in Afrofuturist art.

Each photo of Church of Broken Pieces is an interwoven narrative of the cycle of black life. Theodore takes your hand and leads you into a new spiritual world of black boy joy, black women magic—and even pain and death. The minimalism creates of sense of calm as he plays on his strength of utilizing natural light and shadow to fill your eyes with rich color.

Click on the slideshow to see Theodore's in depth commentary on eight of his favorite pieces in the series underneath.

*

Keep up with him via his website and on Instagram.