About MLWells
My fascination with art predated my ability to commute unaccompanied using public transport. My older sibling was the gateway to my exposure to the cultural riches of Chicago - its museums, parks, architecture, lakefront, and vibrant music scene. Art was omnipresent, and I constantly sketched, but it was time-consuming. When I stumbled upon a camera, I discovered I could create similar images much more efficiently with the aid of a darkroom. This triggered my need to comprehend a camera's workings and the art of creating prints that resonated with my creative vision.
Subsequently, I joined Columbia College, drawn by its esteemed fine arts photography program. While honing my skills in fine arts photography, I also dabbled in the commercial side of the profession. Even though I was competent at it, it didn't capture my heart. I yearned to generate prints that mirrored MY interpretation of the world. The darkroom transformed into my sanctuary, my realm of imagination. I view myself as a printmaker and a photographer.
What has changed now is that the advent of the digital realm has unleashed new dimensions of creativity. I directly manipulate my photographs to shift the "untouched image" towards the surreal, the abstract, or the unrecognizable. As an African American photographer, I confront the challenges plaguing other African American artists: the lack of recognition within the "global" art community and perpetual undervaluation. Although photography is commonplace, garnering appreciation for it as a form of fine art is more challenging.
My aim in photography is to create unique images that are aesthetically pleasing and provoke thought. My inclination is not toward capturing "pretty pictures." Instead, I focus on mundane subjects, transforming them through my artistic intervention. I strive to make my audience question whether they look at drawings or photographs. I aim to captivate their interest, incite curiosity about my process, and allow them to form their interpretation of what they perceive.