Shadows Gather Sheds Light on Denver’s Dark Side

Shadows Gather, a Denver based photographer, is taking a new look at censorship in her latest exhibition, Shadow Banned. This Avant-guard project will open to the public on March 11 at LEON Gallery as a part of Denver’s Month of Photography.

The exposition is an examination of censorship and how it serves to keep underrepresented factions on the fringes. Shadows Gather’s collection showcases photos flagged or banned from social media, and examines how algorithms impact historically marginalized groups.

Her exposition features a collection of everyday imagery of LGBTQ life, people of color, and the female body—all of which were flagged and removed from social media via algorithms. Her subjects are those who are disproportionately affected by algorithmic censorship. Shadows Gather’s compelling visual narrative draws attention to the implicit biases codified into the content moderation practices used by social media. 

Shadows Gather garnered notoriety as a nightlife photographer with her unique and unorthodox style that produces captivating visual narratives.  Her compositions are an exposition of Denver’s nightlife scene. They center on the goth, punk, drag, and LGBTQ countercultures that often lurk in the shadows.

Above all, Shadows Gather is a master of capturing and bringing light to the hidden or overlooked aspects of her environment. Her upcoming collection will be no different. She uses a combination of unconventional techniques to capture and accentuate small details that define the hazy subjects in front of her lens.

This will be a sequel to Shadow Gather’s debut collection, Shadows Gather, which she showcased in 2021. It will also be her second time joining the Denver Month of Photography, a biennial festival that celebrates photographers and their work across the city. 

Shadows Gather’s exhibition will take place at LEON Gallery. LEON is a non-profit gallery dedicated to featuring underrepresented and emerging artists. Shadows Gather’s event will be hosted at the venue from March 11 to April 22.