Camille Lawrence
About this speaker
Camille Lawrence's work as an archivist focuses on the art history, innovations, and diversity of artistic expression across the African Diaspora. She is most interested in exploring and archiving identity formation throughout the African diaspora and culture through three foundational principles: Oral, Physical, and Ritual. Lawrence's background as an art historian, artist, and beauty practitioner informs her approach to archival work. Her projects include Black Beauty Archives and contributions to NYU Hemispheric Institute, Urban Bush Women and BAM DanceAfrica.
On Juneteenth 2020, Camille founded Black Beauty Archives to document, preserve and archive the history of Black Beauty culture. Camille's professional makeup artist experience includes publications in VOGUE, Sophisticate's Black Hair Styles, The New York Times, PAPER, and TV/Film with Apple, CNBC, Disney, ESPN, Hallmark, and Nike. [IMDB] In 2022, Black Beauty Archives was featured in Art Net News, Oprah Daily! and mentioned in CNN and The Hollywood Reporter. BBA’s archival film premiered at Miami Art Basel 2022, in the exhibition “The Crown We Never Take Off'“ in collaboration with RICHES on Amazon Prime.
Camille completed her BA in Art History with a minor in Global Black Studies from SUNY Purchase and Beauty Industry Essentials Certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She is completing her MLIS with a Certificate in Archives from CUNY Queens College.
