Elena Volkova, Lakeland Photo Project, 2025

Elena Volkova is a Ukrainian-American photographer based in Baltimore, Maryland. Volkova’s work engages with themes of liminality, subjectivity, and domesticity. Her process prioritizes connecting and engaging with her subjects in order to capture not only their likeness, but the essence of who they are. Through her use of tintype, one of the oldest forms of photography, she is able to capture deep shadows and dynamic portraits.

Volkova was commissioned by the CAPP Committee to work with the historically Black neighborhood of Lakeland, which is directly adjacent to College Park. The goal of this project is to create a living art archive of Lakeland today, through photography and visual storytelling. Volkova worked with the Lakeland Community Heritage Project and community leaders to connect with the community to create a participatory project. The involvement by the subjects shaped how it unfolded, and the subjects were invited to share stories in order to preserve the legacy of Lakeland in a meaningful, artistic way.

By capturing and connecting with a community that is experiencing intense gentrification to record their present moments, it ensures not only that they have a living archive, but also emphasizes the futures of the community. Many University of Maryland students are not even aware of the people who live in the neighborhoods that surround our campus, or their history. This project begins to bridge that gap with the community, connecting the campus to our neighbors.

CAPP Committee Selection 2024 - 2025

Stamp Gallery, 2026