Yala Sisters

Stemming from Guna Yala, a province in Panamá, Yala Sisters is an exploratory study on gender, culture, and self discovery rooted in Panamanian transmasculine identity. Russell creates images with preservation at the forefront of their mind: preservation of culture, of community, and through Yala Sisters, preservation of self. They’re especially interested in exploring how movement, both forced and intentional, shapes who they are today and who their ancestors were.

Yala Sisters is an interdisciplinary body of work. Russell is examining what it means to fuse their past life as a liturgical pianist and trumpeter with their current work as a photographer and dancer. As a Black lesbian, Russell views Yala Sisters as a homecoming. Through this body of work, Russell is redefining what it means to find solace within not only their community, but themself.