VEHICLE. The Chosen Ones is a multidisciplinary body of work spanning photography, video, and paintings that explore momentum in blackness. At its core, the series reflects on how blackness has consistently served as the engine of cultural mobility. From music, to fashion, to language, Black innovation continues to shape the direction of contemporary life. By situating Black subjects in spaces of industry and adornment, the work both honors their contributions and reclaims visual narratives often overlooked or undervalued.
The title, VEHICLE. The Chosen Ones, underscores this duality: the car as a literal vehicle of movement, and the individual as a symbolic vehicle of cultural progression. Together, they assert a vision of Black presence not just as participants in culture, but as its chosen architects and drivers.
Fixed in imagery of old-school cars, auto body shops, and the elegance of fine tailoring, the series presents a dialogue between labor and luxury, grit and grace. Each element—chrome, fabric, oil, paint—becomes a metaphor for the resilience and refinement that have long defined the Black experience.
Artist Bios
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Storm Cuff
Storm Cuff is a multidisciplinary artist born in Brooklyn, New York. She weaves together photography, painting, filmmaking, screenwriting, creative direction, and dance to build layered narratives that explore both personal and universal dimensions of the Black and Brown experience.
She is committed to challenging conventional narratives and expanding how Black life is seen and valued within visual culture. Through her lens, she honors the full spectrum of Black experiences and does so by celebrating complexity, beauty, strength, and vulnerability, especially in spaces where they are often overlooked or simplified.
At the core of her work is the belief that Black people are not a monolith and that each individual story holds its own unique weight and vibrancy. By combining portraiture and moving images with their painted alternate forms, she illuminates moments of quiet resilience, joy, and defiance. Her intention is to reveal the rich nature of Black existence and to ensure these narratives are seen in their full depth and humanity.
Organizations
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The Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance
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Photoville
Founded in 2011 in Brooklyn, NY, Photoville was built on the principles of addressing cultural equity and inclusion, which we are always striving for, by ensuring that the artists we exhibit are diverse in gender, class, and race.
In pursuit of its mission, Photoville produces an annual, city-wide open air photography festival in New York City, a wide range of free educational community initiatives, and a nationwide program of public art exhibitions.
By activating public spaces, amplifying visual storytellers, and creating unique and highly innovative exhibition and programming environments, we join the cause of nurturing a new lens of representation.
Through creative partnerships with festivals, city agencies, and other nonprofit organizations, Photoville offers visual storytellers, educators, and students financial support, mentorship, and promotional & production resources, on a range of exhibition opportunities.
For more information about Photoville visit, www.photoville.com
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NYC Parks
NYC Parks is the steward of more than 30,000 acres of land — 14 percent of New York City — including more than 5,000 individual properties ranging from Coney Island Beach and Central Park to community gardens and Greenstreets. We operate more than 800 athletic fields and nearly 1,000 playgrounds, 1,800 basketball courts, 550 tennis courts, 65 public pools, 51 recreational facilities, 15 nature centers, 14 golf courses, and 14 miles of beaches. We care for 1,200 monuments and 23 historic house museums. We look after 600,000 street trees, and two million more in parks. We are New York City’s principal providers of recreational and athletic facilities and programs. We are home to free concerts, world-class sports events, and cultural festivals.
VEHICLE. The Chosen Ones
Featuring: Storm Cuff
Locations
View Location Details Bella Abzug Park533 W 34th St,
New York, NY 10001
Location open 24 hours
The views and opinions expressed in this exhibit are those of the exhibition artists and partners and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Photoville or any other participants and partners of the Photoville Festival.
