Yala Sisters

Stemming from Guna Yala, a province in Panamá, Yala Sisters is a visual study on the connection between land, mind, and body. 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 transmasculine lesbian, Russell views Yala Sisters as a homecoming. Russell was unable to explore their queer identity until their late teens, and in many ways have had to remove themself from aspects of their community that were once so important to them. Through Yala Sisters, Russell is redefining what it means to find solace within not only their community, but themself.