Raj Hariharan and Gabrielle Thandiwe Bates - NYU's Photography and Imaging 2026 Senior Thesis Exhibition, Pt. 1 - Hide the Brushstrokes

On February 6, NYU's Department of Photography and Imaging (DPI) celebrated the opening night of their Senior Thesis Exhibition, featuring 48 photographers from the graduating class of 2026. Four of these emerging photographers responded to my interview request, so this episode will be the first of two special double-interview episodes. For the first installment, we'll hear from Raj Hariharan and Gabrielle Thandiwe Bates about their projects. Raj's senior thesis project is called Groundwater, and it focuses on the intersections between climate and community in south India. Raj's portfolio is available here (rajhariharan.myportfolio.com). Gabrielle's project, In their Likeness, operates as an investigation and reimagining of personal, artistic, and African American histories all at once. Gabrielle's portfolio is available here (gigabbybytesphoto.com/).   Check out Hide the Brushstrokes's Instagram (@hidethebrushstrokes) for visual guides and more information about our artists. The second DPI episode will air on March 18, 2026, and it will feature artists Tierney Smith and Elleah Gipson.