The Photographer and Aint-Bad Editor In Chief's personal work and editorial leadership balances representations of joy, struggle, beauty and resilience.

Drawing on the warmth she experienced growing up in Louisiana beauty salons, Emerald Arguelles uses photography to reflect the past and envision a bright present and future for Black Americans. This comes across in a range of approaches and subject matter, from straightforward yet emotive black and white photographs of beauty salons to portraits that highlight the poetry of human gesture. And in her role as Aint- Bad’s Editor In Chief, Arguelles sees an ongoing opportunity to close the cultural gaps that still loom in contemporary photography.

I spoke with the photographer and editor to learn more about her personal work and gaze forward.

Jon Feinstein in conversation with Emerald Arguelles