Harper Bella is an award-winning fine art photographer and curator working in New York City. Her practice pulls from historical data and the lives of contemporary Black people to create narratives through her striking photographs. These works illuminate the multifaceted world of the Black experience in the United States while also preserving the stories of her community —  a central concern for Bella as an artist. 

The rich culture and bright colors of her childhood spent in the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago continue to define her work today, just as her world travels — including more than 25 countries across Asia, Europe, and Africa — reinforce a global perspective. 

Bella earned her bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Marketing Communications at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She also studied abroad at the London College of Fashion and the Istituto Lorenzo de' Medic in Florence, Italy, focusing on the power and possibilities of storytelling.

Bella is the current curator for the Babylon Citizen Council on the Arts, where she champions underrepresented voices. She’s curated exhibits at the Espaco Galleria and Daily Day in Portugal, which presented prominent Sudanese artists. In New York City, Bella creates exhibits featuring the work of fine art photographers Jamel Shabazz, Lou Jones, and Chester Higgins, among others.

Bella’s photography has appeared at the Rockefeller Center, the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Long Island, Miami Art Week, collections both private and public, as well as multiple publications. Her international shows include events in Spain, Italy, and London. Bella is the recipient of various grants, including the Creatives Rebuild New York and New York City Artist Corps grants.