Sheila Pree Bright

Sheila Pree Bright Biography

Sheila Pree Bright is a renowned international photographic artist and the mind behind the celebrated book #1960Now: Photographs of Civil Rights Activists and Black Lives Matter Protests. Bright's expansive artworks weave deep insights into contemporary culture. Her iconic series include Plastic Bodies, Suburbia, #1960Now, Invisible Empire, Young Americans, and an evocative portrayal of the 90s Hip Hop scene. Her incredible artistry finds a spot in the compilation and exhibit Posing Beauty in African American Culture. The 2014 documentary Through the Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People and the 2016 film Election Day: Lens Across America showcase her impact on the world of photography. Among the prestigious spaces that have exhibited her works are the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, the Saatchi Gallery in London, Harvard Art Museums, and the International Center of Photography in New York, to mention a few.

Bright's accomplishments are recognized in major publications, such as The Washington Post and The New York Times. Additionally, she has been honored with several nominations, commissions, and awards. A notable accolade is the Picturing South commission from the High Museum of Art for her series, Invisible Empire. She gained national recognition in 2006, when she won the Center Prize award, formerly the Santa Fe Prize, for her Suburbia series. Also, she has been nominated for the ICP Infinity Awards in New York and the Ted Prize, which amounts to $1 million.

Her works have found homes in esteemed collections, notably the Library of Congress, the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC, the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta and several others, including The Do Good Fund.