Mia McNeal Undefinable

Mia McNeal’s portraiture highlights the beauty, power, and uniqueness that is naturally exuded by Black women. “Misogynoir” is a term coined by scholar Moya Bailey to describe the anti-Black and misogynistic discrimination experienced by Black women. These prejudices are fueled by the relentless dissemination of angry, sassy, and overtly sexualized tropes for popular consumption which has led to dangerous mistreatment in medical, educational, judicial, professional, and online settings. McNeal scrutinizes our obsession with Black culture and the perverse ways in which Black women are deemed desirable when their attributes are displayed on non-Black bodies. Undefinable serves as counterpoint to this mistreatment and a platform to celebrate Black women, providing space for them to reclaim their own narratives. Through her collection of intimate gelatin silver prints and a short film, McNeal explores the true lived experiences of her subjects.