Strip clubs have always been relevant and instrumental in driving culture - especially within the African American community and hip-hop. Why do you think the fascination with strip club culture is having a renaissance now, looking at major films like Zola and Hustlers ?
#Onyx strip club series
This series also heroes women as the central focus, which is a common thread in most of my work. I feel as though the imagery from ONYX evokes the signature vibrant, glossy, visual style that is present in most of my work. This series is a continuation from my usual work. Ultimately, I want to portray a narrative of femininity, sisterhood, self-transformation, and female empowerment amongst the entertainers at Club Onyx.
I believe these women are worthy of recognition. My goal with ONYX is to highlight these women, center their beauty, and them from an authentic point of view, during real-life moments. I made a promise to myself that once I "made it" as a photographer/director, that I would return and document the women that perform in the club. I was intrigued by the way they moved around the space, and how they interacted with men, and how they interacted with one another. I initially came up with the inspiration to shoot the ONYX series after visiting the club back in 2018. I've always found strip culture to be intriguing - everything from the confidence that the entertainers exude, the money, and the overall talent and athleticism it takes to perform. We asked her a few questions about her work with ONYX, which is on view at Fotografiska starting April 22, and about the strip club in Black culture and the popular imagination, with films like Zola and Hustlers winning critical acclaim. "It took me back to the days where I would rush home from school to finish my homework just so that I could watch the video countdown on 106 & Park.” “I revisited numerous films and music videos from the late '90s and '00s for visual inspiration, and watching these videos honestly gave me a sense of nostalgia," she said. The project brought Raquel back to her childhood self, watching music videos after school in the age of the “video vixen.” She portrays these women as complex individuals who are hardworking, talented, and extremely good at their jobs. Raquel initially came up with the idea after visiting the club in 2018 and dreamed of coming back to capture the dancers in all their strength and glory in a candid and intimate way. Now, she has an entirely new project on a famed strip club, Club Onyx in Houston. She rose to fame on Instagram with her minimalist and sexy aesthetic, and she now photographs the likes of Selena Gomez and Lizzo. Adrienne Raquel is a photographer known for her graphic, feminine photographs of women, including herself.
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