The "South Bronx Trades & Workers" series, which began in 2011 shortly after Fougeron relocated her studio to The South Bronx, documents the active industries and manufacturing enterprises of Port Morris and Hunts Point. It offers viewers a glimpse into the unseen places and unheralded workers of New York City.
In contrast with the grim imagery often associated with the South Bronx, Fougeron’s photographs show us that industry persists and labor thrives in the borough. This project gains particular relevance as residents of Port Morris feel the pressure of expansion and rezoning.
Some of the industries photographed by Fougeron date to the 19th century, while others were created in the 21st. They range from industrial steel production, scrap metal recycling, auto parts and scaffoldings, to artisanal family trades such as baking, printing, and hand-made bedding. The series also includes recent activities near the Hunts Point Food Market: custom-prepping fish, crafting wooden boats, the waste-management industry, and creating green rooftops. It is a celebration of the artistry and every-day heroics of intrepid people whose work entails craft and bodily labor. These images highlight the skills and dedication of the laborers to the small businesses that have traditionally offered immigrants financial opportunities and a first-step toward American citizenship.
Ms. Fougeron decided to cover photographically each trade in four different ways. Her compelling portraits focus on the working people; her striking landscapes place the project geographically; her environmental pictures are both informative and reflective; and her close-ups are simply beautiful abstractions. Together it adds up to a remarkable artistic document of Port Morris and Hunts Point.
— Elisabeth Biondi -curator of the exhibition Heart of The South Bronx: Trades
Solo Exhibitions (selection):
2015: The South Bronx Trades, curated by Sergio Bessa, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, NY, NY
2014: Heart of the South Bronx: Trades curated by Anna Von Lenten, The Half King, Chelsea, NY
2014: Heart of the South Bronx: Trades curated by Elisabeth Biondi, The Point’s Art Container, Bronx, NY
Group Exhibitions (selection):
2023: Her City, curated by MarkCraig and Valeri Larko, Leake Street Gallery, London, UK
2012: This Side of Paradise, curated by Manon Sloan of No Longer Empty, Andrew Freedman House, Bronx, NY
Full list of exhibitions in Résumé
