Stories of Triumph: Honoring Southern Leaders This World AIDS Day
A Fine Art Photography Exhibition Celebrating Southern Leadership in the Fight Against HIV
In the American South, storytelling is more than tradition—it’s connection, memory, and survival. For generations, these stories have carried wisdom, preserved histories, and sparked hope in times of challenge. They are also powerful tools for breaking stigma and fueling advocacy, especially around issues like HIV.
Stories of Triumph honors this legacy through a collection of fine art portraits and narratives that uplift the courage, resilience, and beauty of Southern HIV advocates and leaders.
This project invites you to witness the strength of communities who continue to fight for visibility, equity, and a future free from HIV.
About the Project
Stories of Triumph is a visual and narrative journey commissioned by the Emory COMPASS Coordinating Center to spotlight the people transforming the HIV landscape in the South.
Over three months, visual artist and educator Sean Black traveled across 12 states—meeting more than 50 leaders from 30 organizations whose lives embody resilience, hope, and community. Through his lens, Sean captures themes of vulnerability, friendship, loss, love, joy, and unshakeable determination.
More than a photography series, Stories of Triumph serves as a tribute to the advocates and organizations who have long championed health justice and dignity across the region. These portraits reflect a movement defined not only by struggle, but by triumph.
Why Art Advocacy Matters
Art makes space for truth. It invites reflection, disrupts stigma, and opens doors to deeper understanding.
Stories of Triumph uses the power of visual storytelling to:
• Elevate community voices often overlooked
• Increase visibility for Southern HIV advocates
• Encourage empathy and connection
• Inspire dialogue and collective action
• By bringing these stories into public view, the project helps bridge gaps in understanding and fosters solidarity with those impacted by HIV.
Meet the Artist: Sean Black
Sean Black is a photojournalist, activist, and university educator whose work centers health equity, LGBTQ+ communities, and individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. His career includes a decade as Senior Editor of A&U: America’s AIDS Magazine, where he photographed and interviewed cultural icons such as Sheryl Lee Ralph, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, and Alicia Keys.
His photography has appeared in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Essence, Variety, Rolling Stone, and other national outlets. Sean holds both a Master of Fine Art and a Master of Art in Photography from California State University San Bernardino. In 2024, he was named a semifinalist in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition for a portrait from this very series.
Sean’s artistry and deep commitment to social justice bring humanity, dignity, and emotional depth to every portrait in Stories of Triumph.
About the Emory COMPASS Coordinating Center
The Emory COMPASS Coordinating Center supports community-based organizations across the U.S. South working to end the HIV epidemic. Through capacity building, leadership development, funding, and strategic partnerships, the Center strengthens local infrastructure and amplifies the voices of communities most impacted by HIV.
Grounded in equity, collaboration, and a belief in the power of storytelling, the Emory COMPASS Coordinating Center is dedicated to creating lasting change across the region.
Featured Leaders & Partners
Stories of Triumph was made possible through the dedication of Southern leaders, advocates, and organizations working tirelessly for equity, visibility, and care. Their passion—and their belief in the transformative power of storytelling—shaped every step of this project.
We invite you to explore the portraits, meet the leaders behind the stories, and learn more about the partners who helped bring Stories of Triumph to life.
Click here to learn more about featured leaders in exhibit.
