Darnell Blue
Darnell is a photographer and writer who grounds his work in black study. Born and raised in Detroit, he discovered an interest in photography and social practice through a community program for teenagers. Since then, artmaking has been a vital part of how he relates theory to his life. Currently, his focus is shifting from documentary-style portraiture toward conceptual investigations into performance, anarchy, and identity.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from Central Michigan University and a master’s degree from Fudan University in Shanghai, where he researched racial self-conceptualization among immigrants. He is joining Carnegie Mellon after spending several years traveling in Latin America. There, he took a break from a career in communications to let his mind and feet wander.
For Darnell, the MFA program represents a welcome opportunity to establish art as a central pillar of his everyday life.