Meet Bailey Murrell | Creative Director & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bailey Murrell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bailey, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I always had passions and if I am being honest – indulging in those passions allows an alignment for me to continue to walk in my own truth. Everyone has a unique view of the world and I work to share what I capture through a lens specific for myself. I have always been Bailey, driven and creating. The past seven years I really found my niche in photography and concept curation. I’ve dabbled in garment design, digital art, painting, performing arts, literary arts and so much more, but I have found the underlining root through each medium was for me to share my view of the world. I wanted to paint the Black experience, draw Black women and how I saw their essence, design garments that shape the Black female silhouette. As a photographer I am constantly curating concepts that depict and highlight women of the community. Visual storytelling and creating images that incorporate the world I see – yup, that’s what I am all about.

Black is beautiful, there is beauty in our experiences, culture, and fashion.

I created amuse the agency a house that mainly offers concept curation, creative consulting, and portraiture photography services. Amuse also works with women creatives who are looking to build their portfolio through trade of service projects. Amuse is conceptual portraiture’s anchored at the intersection of culture and fashion. Amuse acts as a guide for millennial creatives, amplifying their voice through aesthetically pleasing visual storytelling and content curation. I can be very impatient with myself; I always tell myself “Why wait for a seat at the table when we can create our own!” It’s time to drop the veil, Black Creatives exist in Colorado, and I am making it my business to give space where we can network, build relationships, and connect in our community where we’re empowered by each other.

There are days where I am inspired constantly, even by things some would say are mundane. I am like a sponge taking in all my experiences then jotting them down in my notebook. My phone is like a traveling mood board; full of concepts, images, songs, words that all inspire. The work I release are unique to my own perceptions, when working with a client I align with their vision, and I help guide my clients to execute their visions.

I chose to pursue work in the creative field because I wouldn’t feel like myself if I was doing anything otherwise. There’s a certain type of peace I can achieve while creating. I am happy working with clients and other creatives, making art, indulging in our passions – these are things that excite me. I want to leave this earth content that I lived how I wanted to live and worked as I pleased – for me that’s creating and expressive visual storytelling, bringing people together.

Creating that space.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’d like to think that I draw my strength from my support system, it is comprised of loving people; always offering words of encouragement, assistance and are the ones who make themselves available to help me build the stairs on whatever hill I aim to climb. They smile grandly with me as I push to accomplish my goals, their support has a progressive impact on my drive, so yes this is my formal acknowledgment of my grateful appreciation to them!

Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

I am going to get my flowers eventually, even if I must plant the garden myself. I have made Colorado a home, I’ve built the garden and planted the seeds. My portraiture work highlights my view of the world and the art I want to release. I accept work with clients who I feel align with Amuse’s values. I also work on projects where I can bring creative women together for a beautiful outcome. The visuals I release all have been curated with thought and intention. It is my hope that these images can resonate with viewers. I was able to propel Amuse the agency through meeting people and making authentic connections within the community. I’ve been putting in the leg-work to connect and extend opportunities to creatives. I don’t believe in gatekeeping; the creative industry is big and when I build teams for projects, I keep inclusivity and transparency at the forefront of my mind.

To be honest I sometimes find myself disheartened when I see creative opportunities gatekept from the Black community, but those emotions are what drives me. I want to give opportunities to people, and I want to create space where people can create comfortably or feel seen. Being from the east coast it is a culture shock how the creative community differs, but I give it my best to pour into the community I serve. Many people I’ve met or who have interacted with my business on social media have numerously stated that the vibe about my portraitures and business is different than what they’ve seen, so that brings me joy to see and hear. I’ve met and worked with many creatives who have collaborated with me and shared their space, so I am so grateful for what I’ve learned and experienced. My visuals are forward-thinking and intentional, through amuse I aim to pay homage to Black culture and the essence of Black women.

One of my recent works just wrapped up and published in September 2022. You can view the virtual exhibit on my website. The project is called Hair of Isis: The Long Haired One; as the concept curator and creative director I deigned a wardrobe made of hair for the models to wear and brought together an exceptional team of women who flawlessly executed. To say the least, this project gave what it was supposed to have given, period! We are not immune to the charms of a beautiful head of hair and the ancient Egyptians weren’t either. But they took appreciation for hair, especially feminine hair, to a whole new level of magnitude. For them, hair was magical. And, of course, Who would have the most magical hair of all? The Goddess of Magic: Isis Herself. Showcasing the long-haired one (Isis) inspired by ancient gods, and Black cultural jewelry placements while highlighting the magical anecdotes of how expressive hair can throughout the ‘her’story of Black women. We are telling our story while wearing different hair textures and imitating the complexities of hair art with variant styles of braids, kinks and twists.

The hair of Isis exhibit can be accessed via @amusetheagency Instagram page or website.

Amuse the agency is a house that is creating authentic space for people to create and celebrate Black Culture while offering a few trades of service opportunities, collaborative projects. Our main services are photography and creative direction consulting.

In the words of my good sis Issa Rae “I’m rooting for everybody Black”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Denver isn’t the biggest city; it is a place where you go to live a different life. Very outdoor oriented and honestly the city shuts down very early. A week-long trip to Denver in the warmer months would have to incorporate a few days in the mountains, visiting the national park with u¬¬¬¬tv’s or horseback riding. Taking a drive to the hot springs and indulging in the Indian Hot Spring caves or renting a pontoon at horse tooth reservoir for a day trip. Spending a day or two in the city to explore the museums and exhibits. Having brunch at the aquarium and dinner at Barcelona wine bar. There are so many spots to explore so we would without a doubt add in two days to visit all the black owned places: whether its thrifting at the Common Collective, enjoying a picnic at Vibes in the Park, having drinks at Agave Shore or enjoying nightlife at Oasis. I don’t really have a top spot to recommend in Denver, I have been to so many places and attended many events. My taste is sporadic, and I try to visit as many places in Colorado as I can. If I were to send a set itinerary to my friends the top of my must visits are Black owned businesses or events, the mountains or hot springs and a few exhibits.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to think that I draw my strength from my support system, it is comprised of loving people; always offering words of encouragement, assistance and are the ones who make themselves available to help me build the stairs on whatever hill I aim to climb. They smile grandly with me as I push to accomplish my goals, their support has a progressive impact on my drive, so yes this is my formal acknowledgment of my grateful appreciation to them!

Website: https://linktr.ee/amusetheagency

Instagram: amusetheagency

Image Credits
Amuse the agency @amusetheagency, KCreations @Kcreation.s, theRWstudio @therwstudio. Models: Aysia @aysianperusi0n, Deja @slayyeja_, Jante @jante_shields, Isaro @isaro_li