Cecil McDonald, Jr.

Cecil McDonald, Jr. (he/him) serves as a Lecturer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Adjunct Professor at Columbia College Chicago, exploring intersections of masculinity, familial relations, and Black cultural expression through photography, video, and performance art.

His educational journey began with studies in fashion, house music, and dance club culture, culminating in an MFA in Photography from Columbia College Chicago.

McDonald's research interrogates narrow representations of Black life, subverting historical imagery through projects like Cuts and Beats and The Heat of the Cool. He challenges the false dichotomy of Black misery versus exceptionalism, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches where photography serves as a catalyst for deeper cultural exploration rather than an endpoint.

His monograph In The Company of Black (2016) examines everyday Black humanity beyond reductive stereotypes, contributing to contemporary discourse on representation and identity.

Notable recognitions include:

• Joyce Foundation Midwest Voices & Visions Award
• Artadia Award
• Swiss Benevolent Society Residency (Lucerne)
• 3Arts Teaching Artist Award
• Light Work Artist-in-Residence (2013)

As an educator, McDonald teaches foundational and advanced courses including Introduction to Photographic Image Making and Individual Projects, mentoring students toward BFA exhibitions through conceptual development and technical mastery. His community collaborations span Terrain Exhibitions, Floating Museum, and Hyde Park Art Center, notably creating Pieta for America during a Chicago public high school residency.

McDonald's practice thrives on cross-disciplinary partnerships with poets, musicians, and community organizations, transforming spaces through dance processions, drumming, and performance to celebrate Black cultural resilience and social engagement.