Harlem teens share their lives through photography in Expanding the Walls program
The Studio Museum in Harlem's 'Expanding the Walls: Making Connections Between Photography, History, and Community' program features photographs by Harlem teens, including Zemi Moreno-Billingsley, Kareen J Dillon, Sergio Kadinsky, Elanie Vargas, Sean Frederick, Kevin Marshall, Lily Cheng, Nola Nelson, Joel Angel Sebastian, Mbali Ndolvu, Belen Vanesa Bautista, Janaivi Sosa, Jessica Delgado, Genevieve Pierre, Isabella de la Cruz, Natasha Bunnag, and Jossie Rivera. The works span from 2003 to 2025. Participants describe photography as a means of self-expression, storytelling, and capturing overlooked beauty. The program, which included ninth-grader Zemi Moreno-Billingsley from Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn in 2025, encourages teens to explore their lives and communities through the camera.
Key facts
- The Studio Museum in Harlem runs the Expanding the Walls program.
- The program features photographs by Harlem teens from 2003 to 2025.
- Zemi Moreno-Billingsley participated as a ninth-grader at Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn in 2025.
- Joel Angel Sebastian, then 16 in 2025, said photography is 'a new way to express myself'.
- Janaivi Sosa, then 12 in 2025, aims to photograph beautiful scenery people overlook.
- Isabella de la Cruz, age 14, wants viewers to reminisce about childhood emotions.
- Works include 'Can You See Yourself?', 'Poker Hands', 'Mermaid Parade', 'Girlhood', 'Watermark', and others.
- The collection is held by the Studio Museum in Harlem.
Entities
Artists
- Zemi Moreno-Billingsley
- Kareen J Dillon
- Sergio Kadinsky
- Elanie Vargas
- Sean Frederick
- Kevin Marshall
- Lily Cheng
- Nola Nelson
- Joel Angel Sebastian
- Mbali Ndolvu
- Belen Vanesa Bautista
- Janaivi Sosa
- Jessica Delgado
- Genevieve Pierre
- Isabella de la Cruz
- Natasha Bunnag
- Jossie Rivera
Institutions
- Studio Museum in Harlem
- Saint Ann's School
Locations
- Harlem
- New York City
- United States
- Brooklyn