Kezia Velista

“Fragments of Intimacy” is a photo collection and essay inspired by Virginia Woolf’s novel To the Lighthouse and literary theory book Camera Lucida by Roland Barthes. What both bodies of work have in common are that they were both created after the death of the respective authors’ mothers, and they’re both written out of introspection and curiosity. My photo series illustrates various forms of bonding, sensuality, and the varying ways we can find connection amongst both strangers and loved ones. With the help of many supportive friends and mentors, it was part of a group exhibition in the summer of 2019. Now it is available in print and digital publication. To flip through online, click here. Free print copies of the zine are available upon request.

"A Tale of Two New Yorks” is a series done in collaboration with Refract Magazine, Baruch College’s digital, non-fiction literary publication, focusing on contemporary issues within the arts, sciences, politics, culture, and literature. To view the full set of stories, click here.

“Communion” is a film photo series done in the summer of 2019. The photos were taken during a 5-week summer course in black and white film photography taught by Professor Jaimie Gordon. All photos were taken using a Canon AE-1 and developed at the photo lab of LaGuardia CC.
The title is inspired by the religious ritual, also known as the eucharist. Despite moving here in 2015, taking pictures only using film allowed me to experience my surroundings in an inexplicable way that I’ll never forget. This series contains a blend of meaningful people I’ve met in NYC
alongside sights and scenery that have pricked me. Special thanks to those who were involved in this challenging yet incredibly lovely project.