Artist Statement
I work in both digital and film processes in Photography. I especially enjoy working in the darkroom and printing images, as well as the digital process. I lean towards portraiture and feel passionate about capturing humanity and moments of emotions. My work finds balance oftentimes through the addition of natural elements into my compositions. Early on in my AFA for Photography I did a series of works that emphasized the texture of skin, comparing it to that of bark on a tree or other components of nature (veins of leaves, lichen, the creases of flower petals, etc.). This work, along with a childhood spent immersed outdoors in the Pacific Northwest was what sparked my interest for observing and documenting the relationship between nature and humanity. That interest has grown over the years into an adoration and devotion to preserving the moments, connections, and emotions within each project I get to create. My goal is ultimately to capture and reflect the complex and beautiful relationship between humans and nature within my work.
BIOGRAPHY
Raven Wade-Keyes was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She is finishing her Associates of Fine Art with a concentration on Photography. She works in both digital and film processes, focusing mainly on portraiture. Her first exposure to the darkroom process and photography in general was through her photographer father who kept a darkroom in their house growing up. She received a ribbon for her digital documentary work in high school, traveling with the Blue Nile Children’s Organization doing charity work in Ethiopia. These experiences led her to pursue her AFA in Photography at Shoreline College. Raven has also done work within the local Indigenous community, documenting the progress of a sweatlodge, as well as the daily workings of a local indigenous food pantry. Images related to these volunteer experiences were exhibited at Shoreline College Gallery in 2025.
