Sculpted Muse
Photographer: Emmerson Edmo
1. What significant life experiences or events have influenced and shaped your artistic vision?
My artistic vision is deeply rooted in my heritage and my lived experiences as a Shoshone and Blackfeet Native American woman. Growing up surrounded by stories, landscapes, and traditions that carry generations of resilience and beauty taught me to see art not only as expression, but as continuation. I was raised with storytellers who could make the air stand still through a single sentence, and I’ve carried that same approach into my photography, pausing time to let emotion, light, and identity breathe in one frame. My art has always been a way of reclaiming space for Indigenous presence and showing how culture, strength, and femininity coexist in modern forms.
2. Collaboration often sparks fresh creativity. Can you share an example of a collaboration that led to an unexpected and exciting artistic outcome?
One of my favorite collaborations was with Chef Pyet DeSpain, an Indigenous chef and winner of Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef, for her debut cookbook. We wanted the imagery to reflect that cooking, for her, is an act of service. Cooking is rooted in love, tradition, and the sharing of ancestral knowledge through food. What began as a simple cover shoot evolved into a shared language of storytelling, blending food, fashion, and portraiture into something that felt intimate rather than staged. Each image carried her intention to honor cultural histories while nourishing others. That project reminded me that true collaboration is built on trust, and it deepened my appreciation for translating emotion into visual form while expanding my passion for interdisciplinary storytelling.
3. Walk us through a specific project that challenged your creative boundaries. How did you approach it, and what did you learn from the experience?
A project that truly pushed my creative boundaries was Roots in Motion, a promotional fashion editorial for Utah Indigenous Fashion Week inspired by Indigenous movement and identity. I collaborated closely with the UIFW creative director, taking their concept and developing a full mood board that translated the vision into color, tone, and emotion. From there, we coordinated with designers, stylists, and models to execute the shoot. The challenge was weaving traditional elements with modern fashion in a way that felt both authentic and forward-thinking. It required balancing respect for heritage with the freedom to innovate visually. Through that process, I learned that creativity thrives when intention leads the way. Once I trusted my instincts and focused on storytelling over perfection, the final series became one of my proudest works, emotionally resonant, visually layered, and deeply personal.
4. In the ever-evolving art world, what do you believe sets your work apart and makes it unique or groundbreaking?
My work exists at the intersection of fashion, culture, and storytelling. What sets it apart is how it merges editorial beauty with narrative depth. I approach photography not just as image-making but as cultural preservation and reinterpretation. Every photo session, whether it’s a high-fashion editorial or a portrait, is grounded in story. I aim to create work that resonates beyond trends, celebrating diversity and modern Indigenous identity with elegance, emotion, and truth. My images are meant to invite viewers to feel the stillness, the power, and the humanity behind each subject.
5. As you reflect on your journey, are there any specific goals or milestones you've set for your artistic career in the coming years?
In the coming years, I want to expand my body of work into gallery exhibitions that celebrate Indigenous representation in fine art photography. I also plan to continue directing and producing visual campaigns that bridge fashion and culture, giving Indigenous creatives more visibility in the global art space. Ultimately, my goal is to keep storytelling alive, through imagery that inspires connection, pride, and curiosity in those who see it.
-
Sculpted Muse celebrates the dialogue between fashion and form; Where light, texture, and movement shape the story. Inspired by the sculptural beauty of the desert, each look blends structure with softness, echoing the strength and serenity of its surroundings. Flowing lace, natural tones, and sharp silhouettes reflect a modern femininity that is both effortless and intentional, turning the muse herself into a living work of art.
-
Photographer: Emmerson Edmo
Model: Saba'a Ali
Makeup Artist: Kiana Hoshnic
-
Skirt: Peppermayo