Chloe Kerleroux Photographs Black Rodeo Culture at Bill Pickett Invitational in Atlanta

Chloe Kerleroux, a French photographer, has dedicated several years to capturing the essence of African American cowboy communities throughout the southern United States, with a focus on trail rides—events where horses, music, dance, and family come together. This year, she broadened her project to include rodeo culture by photographing the Bill Pickett Invitational in Atlanta, which The Guardian featured as a photo essay. Her work challenges the predominantly white portrayal of cowboys in westerns and highlights the significant contributions of Black cowboys to the American West's history. Following the Civil War, many African Americans found employment on ranches and cattle drives, with historians estimating that by the late 19th century, about one in four cowboys was Black. Bill Pickett, born in Texas in 1870, emerged as a renowned Black cowboy and rodeo performer, notably popularizing bulldogging. The Atlanta rodeo, named in his honor, continues to celebrate Black rodeo athletes. Kerleroux's work emphasizes trail rides as vital community spaces, while her rodeo images explore competitive performance and its legacy.