Robin North is an interdisciplinary visual artist and educator who grew up in the Texas rural deep south approximately 100 miles southwest of Houston, Texas, along the Gulf Coast. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography & Digital Media from the University of Houston and a Master of Fine Arts in Art with a concentration in Photography & Multimedia from San Diego State University. He is recognized for his innovative approach to photography and related media. North’s artistic practice spans range of media, including photography, 19th-century photographic print processes, installation, time-based media, experimental narratives, and mixed and digital media to photographic archives and research. North, with a particular emphasis on the African Diaspora and African American historical narratives, critically examines how photography has historically been used to undermine Black representation and reinforce racial inferiority. North’s exploration of the intersections between photography, history, and systemic racism provides a nuanced understanding of their impact on African Diasporic experiences across different historical periods.

Before transitioning to a career in visual art and education, North spent nearly twenty years as a corporate executive and small business owner. A significant turning point came in 2016 with the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in his uncle and father figure, James North—a Vietnam War veteran exposed to Agent Orange. This personal and familial challenge led North to shift from the corporate world to full-time visual art, with a focus on preserving and celebrating the histories of Black families in the rural Deep South.

As an educator, Professor North integrates his artistic insights and the philosophy of Paideia, as described by W.E.B. Du Bois in The Souls of Black Folk, into his teaching methodology. He encourages students to go beyond technical proficiency and engage deeply with the socio-cultural implications of their work. North’s pedagogy emphasizes the power of visual storytelling as a means of artistic expression, representation, resistance, and communication. He fosters creativity, critical thinking, and a nuanced understanding of visual language, guiding students to convey the complexities of the world through their own self-expression. This approach empowers students to explore and articulate their personal perspectives visually, reflecting a deep engagement with both their own experiences and broader societal narratives.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, the ability to use praxis is worth a million. I embark on a deeply personal and socially significant journey to explore the power of visual storytelling and the preservation of cultural memory. My creative practice and research are rooted in a familial connection as I delve into the intertwined narratives of my ancestors—their lives marked by adversity, resilience, and the complex interplay of personal challenges and societal structures.