Ayana V. Jackson: A Portrait of Identity Through Photographic Exploration Ayana V. Jackson is an American photographer and filmmaker whose work delves into the complexities of African identity and diaspora, employing performance and studio-based portraiture as core artistic practices. Born in Livingston, New Jersey, on May 14, 1977, she embarked on her creative journey with a strong grounding in sociology from Spelman College (B.A., 1999), followed by intensive study at the University of Arts Berlin focusing on critical theory and large format printing (2005). This multifaceted education inf…