The Design Trust for Public Space Photo Urbanism program offers fellowships to local photographers to showcase unique perspectives on the public spaces of NYC. In anticipation of our upcoming photography exhibition at the Bronx Council on the Arts, “NYCHA's Flowers,” the Design Trust for Public Space dove into conversation with the show’s exhibitor and 2024 Photo Urbanism fellow, Latricia Morgan: a multimedia artist, educator, and role model whose series conveys the essence of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), stylized in luxury and sparkle. You don’t want to miss it.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself: where are you from, what are your interests outside of photography, and what’s important to you?

Latricia: My name is Latricia Morgan, and my artist name is The Artsy Plug. I’m born and raised in the Bronx, New York specifically, and NYCHA to be exact. My interests are in art, painting, drawing, photography, illustration, and anything to capture imagery. Now and forever. It’s important to me to document the underrepresented and people who are not easily seen. I am one of those people who is not easily seen; what you see in front of you is not always what is. I’m way deeper than what I may look like, and I believe that I need to spread that same love and make sure other people are seen, to show and highlight the sunshine that may be hidden behind a whole bunch of brick buildings. 

Q: How were you first introduced to your medium of digital photography? 

Latricia: I was first introduced to digital photography through MySpace, of course! I was maybe ten, and I created an image in the window, it was in black-and-white, and I was so in love with that photo – I was like, ‘I can really do something.’ 

Q: Where do you feel you draw most of your inspiration from?

Latricia: I grow most of my inspiration from limited resources, or a lack of resources. I’ve always had a limited amount of things to help me get the job done. Once I started looking at the glass half-full instead of half-empty, I understood that I can make anything happen. I can do almost anything if I am crafty enough and dedicated enough to put that work in. As far as the art aesthetic, I’m inspired by Etta James, any biopics that Jennifer Hudson has been in, and anything from before the 70s.

Q: In your new series, who are the subjects you chose? Who are they to you?

Latricia: These are all people I’ve met ten, fourteen, plus years ago. One subject is Tony who is a wonderful NYCHA case manager – he’s getting to it. He was also raised in NYCHA between the Bronx and Harlem, and he is now giving back to his community and doing so much more with it. He orchestrates events, he has his own clothing line, he is a wonderful representation of how to make something out of nothing. My subjects are all my chosen family or my family, like my mom. My mom chose NYCHA as a stable place to raise us due to her being a disabled single-parent. She sacrificed so much so that I could have a safe and affordable place to live. I’m in awe of her. 

Q: What is your overarching message with this exhibit, and who do you hope to reach?

Latricia: My message for “NYCHA’s Flowers” is to show that these people, these seeds, are much more than what meets the eye. There’s not only glamour in these neighborhoods, but there are future leaders, role models, and people you should put money and resources behind. We need to make sure people know that we can bloom into anything we so choose.

Q: What work is needed, either inside of NYCHA or outside of it, to keep this message alive?

Latricia: I hope the Photo Urbanism website makes its way around the community because we deserve to see people who look like us shine at this level. I also will be pitching more to NYCHA and other developers: things like dog parks, filtered water fountains, all of that stuff is needed, appreciated, and boosts the quality of life. I hope the work can lean into maybe some agricultural stations, maybe some DIY stations. We have a lot of educational tools set up, but what if people can’t travel? What if things are not accessible? There are a whole bunch of NYCHA buildings that just have stairs and no elevators or ramps; how about we offer virtual résumé building classes, or cooking lessons? My next goal is to enhance my platform to offer resources like that.

Q: Can you share any upcoming personal projects or initiatives you’re excited about?

Latricia: In college, I took a public art class where we learned about projects similar to the Design Trust’s, and the importance of pitching the project to the community before placing something there. There’s a fine line between art installations and gentrification. So, my goal is to pitch simple, functioning art pieces to NYCHA, or a greenhouse. Greenhouses take maintenance – which is hard to pitch – but the idea of bringing tenants together who care about the topic, and giving them the autonomy to build their community up from the inside out, contributes to the overall community bloom. 

Q: Lastly, if you could give one piece of advice for aspiring photographers, primarily from BIPOC and/or Queer communities, what would it be? 

Latricia: Wear everything you are on your body like a badge. It’s a gift to be gay, and it’s a gift to be Black. The fact that I can teach with tooth gems in my mouth, the fact that I can talk to my students about being free — I’m living the dream of being different, and I’m grateful. Please live in your truth if you can, if it’s safe, and keep going and photographing anything and everything that aligns with your mission. 

Latricia Morgan’s “NYCHA’s Flowers'' exhibit will be on view for the public from June 18 - July 18, 2024 at the Bronx Council on the Arts. You can find more of Latricia’s work on her website, theartsyplug.com.