In a rare return behind the lens, here the late Kwame Brathwaite photographs Joanne Petit-Frere, adorned in her sculptural works—Ritual Choker worn as Crown and Rebecca Succubus worn as Bustier, originally commissioned for the Sundance-winning short film Hair Wolf. Captured during an interview for The New Yorker and in the weeks leading up to her debut in Hair Wars at MoMA PS1—a revival of the legendary tradition initiated by David Humphries—this portrait marked a turning point in both process and path.

For the exhibition, Petit-Frere curated & directed a live musical–visual performance centered around the activation of her new sculptural works created onsite at the museum. This rare performance featured a monologue introduction, abstract docu-screen projections & a three piece prog-orchestra ensemble delivered by JoGoesWest & Friends. Closing the show with this immersive presentation, it was described by The New York Times as ….

Essentially, resulting as a stirring formidable launch of a first JoGoesWest live production.

This moment also led to an introduction—facilitated by her gallery representative Philip Martin—to Clement Céroux, then Chief Curator of Photography at MoMA, to discuss her expanding studio practice at JoGoesWest and works in development. Céroux would soon assume his role as Director of the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson, where he is currently curating American West by Richard Avedon, on view through October 12, 2025.

France, in many ways, is now speaking loudly to Petit-Frere’s work and heritage. Beyoncé—among the first artists to commission her work—recently brought her Cowboy Carter tour to a powerful close to the international leg of the tour with a final Paris performance at Stade de France on June 22. Meanwhile, Kwame Brathwaite’s Black is Beautiful—his first international solo exhibition—just launched on view July 5, at the Centre for Photography in Mougins, France, closing October 10, 2025 …

— excerpt by BRAIDWOMAN , 7.10.25

House Critic of JoGoesWest Studios