Faith Couch

Series of moments directed by Faith Couch. 

Movie theaters—long symbolic of romance, coming of age, and one of America’s most cherished pastimes—have a complex history, marred by segregation. Decades after desegregation, one of the few enduring images I’ve encountered of Black people at the movies remains Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Over 40 years have passed, and yet, imagery of Black people simply watching a film in leisure, free from spectacle or stereotype, remains scarce.

The Theater is an extension of my ongoing effort to address this absence—not by debunking existing stereotypes, but by offering alternative realities. My work is driven by a desire to create time-agnostic imagery that affirms the existence and value of Black life across eras, including those in which such representations might have radically altered our understanding of reality.

Rooted in a deep preoccupation with love in all its forms, I have been building what I call a cinematic universe through photography. This universe is composed of Black memory landscapes—geographies where intimacy is mapped through familial bonds, romantic connections, and friendships. These landscapes are not only visual but also emotional and historical, acknowledging the folklore and magic embedded in both lived experiences and the archives that precede my practice.

By synthesizing archival and contemporary imagery, I aim to dissolve arbitrary boundaries between past and present, fiction and documentary. My work invites viewers into conversations about the enduring lineage of Black people being seen—being observed—with care, dignity, and imagination.