The Let Out

Commissioned by the RISD Museum, The Let Out activates contemporary fashion garments donated to the collection by Mark Pollack (RISD BFA 1976, Textiles). With the support of their team, Ryan Cardoso and DJ Chappel used this collection to style more than 40 characters. The resulting 8-foot by 21-foot banner presents a scene taking place at the end of a fashion event. 

Ryan Cardoso: Creative director, photographer

DJ Chappel: Creative director, model 

Rafael Taveras: Photo assistant 

Shirla Auguste: Stylist 

Charles Barbary: Stylist 

Yolibel Gonzalez: Makeup artist 

Rochelle Tina: Makeup artist 

Terrell Villiers: Digital background artist

Autticus Bell: Digital editor

For the past three years, artists Ryan Cardoso and DJ Chappel have joined their practices in design and photography to expand on the rituals of religion. Their first offering, the documentary A Different Type of Church, uses mixed-media content including screen recordings, social media, and YouTube to narrate modern society’s relationship with spirituality. 

Cardoso explores portraiture through photography and film and its importance in archiving the elegance, domesticity, and relationships of life. He uses analogue photography as a means to exhibit the Black swagger. DJ Chappel is interested in the relationship between clothing and movement and its influence on character. He envisions himself as a future ancestor creating primary resources for upcoming generations of gay Black men. 

Ryan Cardoso: ryancardoso.com

DJ Chappel: dualityjunkie.com

Garments donated by Mark Pollack to the RISD Museum