Charzette_Torrence

For nearly twenty years Charzette Torrence has captured unforgettable moments and documented the power of the human spirit. A quiet yet highly perceptive observer of life, Charzette Torrence fondly known as Charlie T. will tell you that she is destined to be the most celebrated female photographer the world has ever known. Inspired by memories of watching her mother take pictures, Charzette recalls, “ I thought it must be magic. The ability to use a small instrument to make an image, a memory that will last a life time.”

In 1993, Charzette was the first African-American graduate from the photography program at Detroit's renowned art school College for Creative Studies. In the same year, she produced her first one-woman show entitled For My People. The photographic series was exhibited at the Detroit Repertory, which immortalized images of common people in their unassuming iconoclastic environments. Soon after her exhibit was displayed with the Michigan Junior League, Detroit Artist Market, and Art In General in New York. Then the Schomberg Museum of African American Research Center in 1997 purchased a collection of Charlie T’s work called Single Working Parents as part of their permanent collection. As most great artists, Charzette’s thirst for new ideal and knowledge lead her to the Rockport Maine Photography Workshop where she assisted famed photographers Maggie Stebbers, Arnold Newman and Joyce Tennison.

Realizing that it was time to branch out on her own, Charzette opened Big As Life Photos, and was commissioned by companies such as Advance Communication, Radio One, Comerica Bank, Campbell-Edwell, Don Coleman and R.J. Dale to bring her photography vision to their brand of clients.

Currently Charzette has an impressive portfolio of celebrities such as Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys, Ray Jay, Ellen Degeneres, and Chaka Kahn. Her published works can be seen in magazines such as Black Enterprise, Code, Hue, Essence, and Emerge.

A quiet yet highly perceptive observer of life, artist Charzette Torrence says more to the world in pictures than ever a sentence could. Her photographs capture, touch and deliver emotion. These are her photographs, her vision, her art, and her destiny.

CHARZETTE TORRENCE'S ARTIST STATEMENT: JUST AS WE ARE

This photo exhibit is a collective work of images depicting the lives of the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender (“LGBT”) community. These images show LGBT’s of all walks of life contrary to what mainstream America views as the stereotype. This is an educational project showing artistic images of everyday people, all of whom are GLBT, which surprises some as “Society” doesn’t view LGBT’s as being part of the so-called “norm”.

Society should acknowledge the positive impact and contributions we have made. Some are ordinary people; others are famous and/or recognizable as you will read below. LGBT’s are not social outcasts, but hardworking contributors to daily life as can be seen in the exhibit. The visual life imagery of these LGBT individuals uplifts and impacts our entire world. “We wake up everyday and never fully realize what these LGBT leaders have contributed to make the lives of gays everywhere more comfortable and easy to live in. This is who they are and this is what they have to offer.”

Charlie T.

Please contact webmaster/webdesigner at 646/245-9839 or photo_webmaster@yahoo.com.