Michelle Patrick’s ‘GRACE’ Exhibition Honors the Beauty and Resilience of Black and Brown Lives

By Laura Henkel

Michelle Patrick’s “GRACE,” currently exhibited at the West Las Vegas Library, is a moving exploration of identity, presence and quiet power. Through a series of photographic portraits, Patrick centers Black and Brown lives not in struggle—but in joy, dignity and grace. As she stated at the opening reception, “If you want to see change, be the change.” With this mantra as her foundation, Patrick created the images she wished to see in the world—images that reflect her lived experience, her values and her vision of beauty.

The inspiration behind her photography stems from a lifelong passion for storytelling. “I’ve always loved the art of storytelling and feel that photography provides a unique way to connect with the viewer,” Patrick shares. With a background in ballet and theater, her artistic instincts have long been informed by movement, expression, mood and lighting. “Ballet taught me how to see and capture form, movement and expression. Theater added another layer—how to create atmosphere through emotion and staging. Combined, they’ve trained my eye to be intentional with composition and to connect with the subject’s energy.”

Patrick began photographing people in 2013, taking portraits of friends and colleagues she met while traveling across the Western United States. That intimacy and familiarity are visible in every image—each one an invitation to witness a person’s essence, not just their appearance.

Two standout portraits—”Dad” (2015) and “Angela” (2013)—anchor the exhibition in emotional clarity. “Dad” is a black-and-white homage to the artist’s late father, whose silvery beard and wise eyes radiate legacy and love. “Angela,” by contrast, is set against a deepening twilight—her bold stance and expression commanding presence amid nature’s shadows and streetlight glow. Both images, though distinct, embody the quiet strength and luminous grace that define the series.

Across the gallery, Patrick’s portraits invite viewers to slow down and witness humanity in its full spectrum. In one section, a compelling grouping of four individuals reflects the diversity of emotion and identity that defines “GRACE.” Posed with confidence, gentleness and individuality, each subject radiates a quiet defiance against invisibility.

And the journey doesn’t end here. “Yes, this series will continue,” Patrick confirms. “It’s so important to see images that are reflective of positivity and change. That was the purpose of creating this. The series made me create a new personal mantra: If you want to see the change, be the change you want to see.”

Patrick is an accomplished multidisciplinary artist with a background in photography, performance and cultural presentation. For more than a decade, she has worked to elevate stories that reflect the richness of the Black and Brown experience.

“GRACE” is more than an exhibition—it’s an offering, a reclamation and a celebration.

Learn more at MichelleFayePatrick.com. The exhibition at the West Las Vegas Library runs through July 6, 2025.