Memories of Dust is an ongoing project, started in September 2023, that explores traditional masculinity in my home state of Texas. In this series, I examine the cowboy, an important male figure shaped by popular culture, and its place in a changing landscape. At a time when masculinist values are resurging in Western societies, it is critical to challenge classic representations of masculinity. The cowboy, a hero of my childhood, remains one of the most enduring symbols of North America, romanticized as the “real man.” This myth has played a major role in defining Western ideals of manhood. Over the past two years, I have traveled across Texas to meet and photograph local ranchers. My goal is to offer a more intimate, vulnerable perspective of the cowboy, moments among men rarely represented yet essential to normalize. With the support of the scholarship, I will return to Texas from March to May 2026, to spend a longer time within the ranching community, deepen relationships, and create new images that challenge representations of the cowboy and push the boundaries of a male stereotype. Goals: Build and develop relationships within ranching communities. Create 15-30 new images across Texan ranches. Edit the work into a new cohesive series for exhibition opportunities. Develop my first photobook dummy. Reach new media outlets for publication I aim to present a new body of work by July 2026 that encourages meaningful conversations about the changing role of masculinity.
