Bios

Jaden Brooks is a student studying Biology and Psychology at Purdue University. They are a member of various organizations and clubs on campus, one of which is the Gordon Parks Photography Ensemble at the Black Cultural Center. Jaden grew up in Dallas, Texas with their mom, grandma, and older sister. They encouraged Jaden to pursue both science and art from a young age, leading to Jaden’s continued passion for both over the years. Despite being a fairly new photographer, Jaden has a clear artistic vision. Their photography focuses on capturing moments, whether that be in animals, people, or nature. They view their photos as time capsules for all the memories and emotions present in the moment. When their camera is down they enjoy hanging out with their cat Salem and listening to audiobooks. 

Miranda Stickel is a senior studying both Environmental and Ecological Engineering and Spanish at Purdue University. She became interested in photography in high school and worked as a photographer for her school’s yearbook. She has developed a love for the art due to its ability to convey people and objects in a way that highlights their beauty. Her project for this exhibition aims to capture the emotions our shoes can convey. Outside of photography Miranda enjoys traveling, painting, running and staying active, and spending time with her friends and family whenever she gets the chance. 

Quinn Winkler is a senior at West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School. He has worked with 3D graphics and modeling software for the past three years. In his work, Winkler tries to seamlessly blend the digital with the physical, mixing 3D renders with images taken from a camera. He is also interested in translating human anatomy into digital models, always striving to improve by creating detailed 3D models of human faces. Winkler plans to continue his work while studying at Purdue University starting Fall 2024.

Viviana Salazar is an undergraduate at Purdue University studying Film and Video Production with a minor in Communication. She is a first-generation Latina, who strives for inclusion in all the projects she curates. She has been creating montage videos, highlight videos, and photographs since 2015. By the beginning of her undergraduate studies, she knew she wanted to pursue media as a career and hobby. Viviana’s passion for video production and photography has driven her to creative places she never knew existed. As she pursues film and video production, and photography, she looks forward to seeing where her artistic vision takes her in the world of media.

Alexis Kindred, a senior in Mechanical Engineering Technology with a minor in Design and Innovation, originates from the sunny city of Tampa, Florida. With a love for creativity and problem-solving, Alexis immerses herself in various hobbies, including photography, drawing, delving into books and graphic novels, and exploring new destinations through travel. Using her many interests, she tries to incorporate a bit of herself in all of her art! Scheduled to graduate in December 2024, Alexis harbors ambitions of pursuing graduate studies overseas to further expand her knowledge and expertise in her field, hoping to travel the world in the process. 

Ben Cohen is a senior in industrial engineering at Purdue. He is also a research assistant for the HAT lab. His interests include sneakers, nature, fashion, and music. Currently in Ben is also building a guitar in the Purdue guitar lab.  His photography takes inspiration for both nature and his love for sneakers.