about 12 hours ago via Facebook

Meet the presenters of SPE’s 2027 Annual Conference! We’re excited to introduce Gabrielle Jade Barnett, presenting “To Be Looked At (or Not): Fat Visibility and the Politics of Looking.” “This presentation examines the politics of looking at fat bodies through lens-based practices that center visibility, discomfort, and control. Drawing from my research and studio work, I approach looking as an active, charged exchange—one shaped by fatphobia, cultural conditioning, and expectations surrounding desirability and motherhood.” About the Presenter Gabrielle Jade Barnett is a lens-based artist working in photography and video whose practice explores fatness, motherhood, and the politics of visibility. Her work examines how bodies are shaped by societal expectations, centering desire, vulnerability, and resistance. She holds an MFA in Photography from the University of Georgia and has exhibited nationally and internationally. Barnett currently teaches photography and video, encouraging students to connect technical skills with critical inquiry and personal experience. Join us at the 2027 SPE Annual Conference to hear Gabrielle explore visibility, the politics of looking, and the power dynamics that shape how bodies are seen.