Jillian Marie Browning’sJillian Marie Browning photography is not traditional. In fact, when you see their work on display in a gallery, you might not immediately use the word “photography” to describe it. For Browning, the medium can (and should) be shared in new, alternative ways.

“My work is not traditional photography at all,” said Browning, assistant professor of photography in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Art and Art History. “I like to print a lot on fabric or do sculptural installations… There are different ways for photography as a medium to live — I’m really passionate about that.”

Browning’s passion for photography began in Ocala, Florida, at West Port High School, a magnet school that offers a range of art classes. While at West Port, Browning decided to take photography courses in their junior and senior years, sparking their lifelong interest in the medium. The experience led them to later enroll in a bridge program with Daytona State College and the University of Central Florida. Although the program helped Browning build commercial photography skills, it did not align with their creative vision.

“[The program] was producing [people] that would go out and get jobs being [commercial] photographers,” said Browning. “I was literally two-and-a-half years into that program, and I was like, ‘I don’t really want to do this.’”

While in the program, Browning took an alternative process photography class — a welcome departure from the more traditional courses. Through the class, Browning uncovered new methods, like cyanotypes, they could infuse into their artmaking.

In addition to experimenting with new processes, Browning was also identifying and nurturing new themes within their art.

“My southern heritage and my experiences as a Black femme-presenting person in the South —that’s a very big part of my art practice,” said Browning

Browning completed their undergraduate degree in 2012, then went on to pursue their MFA in Studio Art from Florida State University. After earning their MFA, Browning took a job with the photography department at the University of Florida. For nearly four years, they served as a tech for photography, drawing, and painting classes. In 2021, they applied for a faculty position at UAB and, soon after, visited the campus for the first time.

“When I toured UAB, I really enjoyed how close all the faculty were,” said Browning. “The art program was super impressive. When I was touring, the thesis show was up… and I was like, ‘Oh, this work is really good.’”

After the tour, Browning accepted a position with the department and started teaching in Fall 2021. After a full year at UAB, they have found common connections with their students.

“A lot of the students that I reach here are extremely similar to me… I see myself in them,” said Browning. “I really try to make sure that I give them as many influences as possible… stuff that help will influence their conceptual ideas.”

Beyond the classroom, Browning is engaging with the broader Birmingham community. They have taught workshops with groups like Paperworkers Local and the Ada Long Creative Writing Workshop, and, throughout February 2023, they will display their work at the Vulcan Materials Gallery at the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA). The show, titled “Figure Grounded,” opened on February 2 and features work from Browning, as well as Amber Quinn, Roscoe Hall, and others.

Browning is also doing work outside of the city of Birmingham. Earlier this month, they curated an exhibition titled “Threshold: Recontextualizing Self-Portraiture” for the Southeast Museum of Photography in Daytona Beach. In a way, it serves as both a homecoming and a celebration of their alternative approach to photography and self-portraiture.

Explore Browning’s work by visiting their website, and learn more about “Figure Grounded” and “Threshold.”