02/09/2026
So happy to finally share these photographs from my thesis ‘Golden’. This project means so much to me highlighting black women and all their beauty. This is by far my favorite projects I’ve worked on to date. I’ll be sharing more images, the film element, bts, and more soon. Everything is also on my website if you’d like to see it there as well. Thank you so much again to my friends that were apart of this project!! 🤎✨
Artist Statement
The black women I know are joyful, trendsetters, exude light, and love unequivocally among other beautiful attributes. The outside world has inflicted perceptions that are not always true representations. Through this project I am creating a more representational depiction of black women. Moving through life, there are various black experiences which connect black women to one another.
Part of the inspiration for this project is my mother. My mother is special in many ways, she is always exuding joy, love, light, and always continues to inspire me. Growing up she raised my sister and I to embrace and love the skin we live in, our hair that defies gravity, and to be confident, kind, and passionate. Through the inspiration of my mother, “Golden” displays black women of various shades of melanin, body types, and hair styles to show the everlasting versatility.
The project incorporates all of my creative passions into one, to produce a larger story of the subjects photographed and their beautiful souls.
Special thanks to my mother Scheherazade, my sister Amira, Dr. Deborah Willis, Jordan Cruz, William Barclay, Journi, Remidy, and Vanessa.
Zorrie Petrus (b. 2001)
Digital photography, video, and music composition.
Archival Inkjet Prints
2025
