In conjunction with Tod Papageorge: At the Beach + In the Pool: On Influence, we invite you for an evening of classical portrait-making with artist and photographer Lewis Derogene. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore how to channel the elegance and drama of Baroque paintings into your own portrait photography.

We’ll begin with a quick look at masterworks by painters like Vermeer and Rembrandt to better understand techniques—like chiaroscuro—that defined the era. Then, we’ll dive into how those same effects can be recreated through lighting, composition, and set design.

Bring your camera or smartphone + bring a partner too, as you’ll be photographing each other! You’ll learn how to set up lighting and backdrops, use fabric and props to build a scene, and frame portraits that feel both timeless and personal.

At the end of class, participants will upload their top shots for a group critique. Images will be displayed on a large monitor for constructive feedback and shared inspiration.

Participants are encouraged to share their final portraits on Instagram and tag @MoCA_CT.

About the instructor
Lewis Derogene, who also goes by her artistic moniker PhenomenaLewis, is an artist and photographer based in Stamford, CT. Her work has been featured in publications such as Culture Icon Zine, Populist Magazine, the April 2024 issue of Westport Lifestyle, and more. Most recently, she was a featured photographer in acclaimed Italian art critic Giorgio Bonomi’s fourth edition photography book, The Solitary Body, Il Corpo Solitario IV.
She is currently pursuing an MA in Fashion Art Direction at the Academy of Art University and holds a BFA in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts.

Inspired by the rich visual language of Baroque painting, Derogene creates compelling portrait and self-portrait photographs that explore and challenge sociopolitical biases within the Black community.
You can view more of her work at www.phenomenalewis.com.