Several of LaToya Ruby Frazier’s photographs from her first solo show have already been published in a feature story of the same name for The New York Times. Her black-and-white images showcase the devastation that occurs when factories shut down and workers are left behind. “What I'm doing in my work is asking the question, What does it look like when the media is gone and it’s no longer headline news? What does it look like to see a worker idle, their life idle, not just the plant? That's the most important part of this whole story,” Frazier says.

Frazier grew up in Braddock, Pennsylvania, a town ravaged by industrial decline, economic ruin, racism, and classism. It has become a central fixture of her work, most notably in her award-winning book The Notion of Family. Today, she continues to treat visual arts as a mode of social commentary. “This is my mission, my purpose, my life's work. And once I'm involved in someone's life photographically, these are relationships that go on forever.”

To book speaker LaToya Ruby Frazier for your next speaking event, contact a sales agent at The Lavin Agency today.