To Dream Photograph

Artist Information Hello, my name is Nitashia Johnson. I am a Nigerian-American, multimedia artist and educator from Dallas, Texas, who truly has a passion for creating. I attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. I later became an alum of Texas Woman's University (BFA) and the Rhode Island School of Design (MAT). I am currently finishing my Master of Fine Arts degree at the School of Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication at UT Dallas. I currently work as a Digital Media Specialist for the university setting and as a freelance graphic designer, photographer, videographer, and creative arts educator. I have worked as a freelance photographer and videographer for news publications, including The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News, NBC, The Washington Post, CNN, and others. For the past year surrounding personal passions, I have worked hard on my non-profit, The Smart Project - is a creative after-school program structured for teens and aspiring mentors living in North Texas. Another of my most significant artistic accomplishments is The Self Publication collection is a photographic book series created to dismantle the stereotypes placed on those in the Black community. What started as casual photographs transformed into a book series showcasing the beauty of Black natives and their stories. I am working on the project alone to shed light on community issues. I plan to film a short documentary series following five past participants as the work unfolds. I want to continue growing as an artist with outstanding leadership and thoughtful mentors. One of my latest projects is The Beauty of South Dallas. This project captures the rapid change of a historical neighborhood due to socio-economic shifts, creating a document of South Dallas for future residents, visionaries, and developers. ​ I love to create, and I use my photography and design skills to make a difference in the world. My photographic work is in The Dallas Morning News, D Magazine, and The New York Times. In 2019, I became one of the first women selected for the Sony Alpha Female Creator-in-Residence program. In 2021, I was the inaugural recipient of the Juanita J. Craft House Artist Residency Project and took part in the Talley Dunn Gallery Equity in the Arts Fellowship. I was also awarded the 2021 Artist Disruptor Award from The Center for Cultural Power.