Self-Portrait Before & After My Body

Phil SaintDenisSanchez’s debut collection before & after our bodies tackles complex familial history and struggles, emerging in the rich backdrop of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Through multilayered language and immersive imagery, SaintDenisSanchez interweaves political and social issues-from the lasting impacts of colonialism to environmental disaster-with intensely personal narratives of love, learning, and loss. The long, lyrical form and enrapturing poetic voice draw you in and refuse to let you go.

before & after our bodies maps a stunningly poignant family tree and gets at the root of the social forces that shaped its growth.