Jalen Wright and fellow photographers Brendan Bannon and Brandon Watson created the work comprised of photos of girls participating in flag football for the Buffalo Bills Public Art Program at Highmark Stadium presented by Victory Live.
The game of football is changing – and a SUNY Fredonia alumnus is chronicling it in an art display at Highmark Stadium.
Jalen Wright (Photography, ’18) and fellow photographers Brendan Bannon and Brandon Watson were among the 45 artists and art teams selected to be part of the Buffalo Bills Public Art Program at Highmark Stadium presented by Victory Live. The program is designed support and uplift western New York's diverse communities through ongoing cultural investment.
Wright, Bannon and Watson created a work comprised of photos of girls participating in flag football. The project was unveiled with opening of the stadium this summer.
“Brandon was the original brainchild behind the project,” Wright said. “He developed a concept centered around youth flag football, and his proposal was ultimately selected. After the project was approved, we spent time photographing multiple flag football sessions and began looking closely at the images we were creating.”
Through that process, along with a consultation with another fellow photographer, Wright said he and his collaborators started to recognize a “stronger story” within the work.
"I want people to see the teamwork, confidence, and sense of possibility that comes through in the photographs." - Jalen Wright
“That was when we decided to pivot toward highlighting girls’ youth flag football,” he said. “Football has traditionally been viewed as a male dominated sport, so there was something powerful about seeing young girls step onto the field, compete, and take ownership of a space where they have not always seen themselves represented.”
He noted girls’ flag football is growing and creating more opportunities for young women, including college scholarships.
“We felt that this evolution of the sport was important to document and celebrate,” Wright said. “We wanted the photographs to show that women and girls love football too, and that they deserve to see themselves represented in the sport they enjoy. We worked with the Kenmore West girls flag football team and photographed a flag football tournament at the Bills' practice facility to build out the series.”
Wright hopes those who view the work will walk away inspired – and with an awareness of the ways in which the sport is changing.
“I hope viewers feel the joy and energy in these images,” Wright said. “There is something powerful about watching young athletes compete, encourage one another, and take pride in what they are doing. I want people to see the teamwork, confidence, and sense of possibility that comes through in the photographs."
The artist also hopes girls and young women will see themselves in the work and be encouraged to follow the pursuits they love.
“Representation matters. When you are young and you see someone who looks like you participating in something, it can make that possibility feel more real. You begin to think, ‘Maybe I can do that too,’” Wright said. “And while this project centers on girls’ youth flag football, I hope that feeling extends beyond them. I want young people of different genders, backgrounds, and identities to see that there is a place for them in sports and that they belong on the field. At its core, I hope the work communicates a simple message: you deserve to see yourself represented in the spaces you love, and you should feel empowered to take up space in those places. Being able to contribute to a project that communicates that message feels especially meaningful to me.”
Wright explained that his time at SUNY Fredonia had a direct influence on the Highmark project.
“One of the experiences that stands out the most was my time as a resident assistant,” he said. “I really valued the opportunity to be the kind of person I wanted to see when I was navigating college. As a Black student, I understood how important it was to feel seen, understood, and represented, and I wanted to create that sense of belonging for other Black students in my residence hall.
“In many ways, that experience connects directly to what we hope to accomplish with this piece at the new Highmark Stadium. We want young girls to feel seen and represented.”
As a resident assistant, Wright “tried to be a safe space for students — someone they could talk to, someone who would listen, and someone who could help them navigate the challenges of college. It can be daunting when you don't feel like you belong on your campus, and I wanted the students around me to know that they had someone in their corner.”
Many of his favorite Fredonia memories came from being part of the Black Student Union and “the community we built together.”
“From fashion shows to guest speakers and all the other events in between, there was never really a dull moment,” Wright said. “Those spaces gave me an opportunity to connect with other students, celebrate our culture, and simply enjoy being part of a community. I look back on those experiences with a lot of gratitude.”
His Fredonia experience also centered on the photo lab in the basement of Igoe Hall.
“I remember being terrified to be down there at certain hours of the night, but that basement eventually became my second home,” Wright said. “I spent countless hours down there editing photographs, working on assignments, using the photo studio, and learning my craft. That photo lab represents a really important part of my development as a photographer.”
Wright, who lives in Buffalo, NY, works as a photographer and photojournalist. He enjoys storytelling through both visual art and documentary photography, capturing “raw emotion and authenticity in every frame.” As a photojournalist, Wright has contributed to major outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post and Vanity Fair.
In addition to working as a freelance photographer, Wright is assistant director of Academic Standards and Coordinator for Academic Intervention at SUNY Buffalo State University. He earned a master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from SUNY Buffalo State in 2020.
