January 25, 2025

The Carter Johnson Leather Library in Evansville, Indiana, is a vital archive that celebrates and preserves Leather and LGBTQIA+ culture. Established in 2005 by the remarkable Mama Vi and her wife, Jill Carter, this treasure trove boasts a collection of thousands of magazines, posters, artworks, newspapers, ephemera, and memorabilia dating back to the 1700s.

Mistress Sheba has been selected as the Carter-Johnson Leather Library’s Artist-in-Residence for 2025.



A Dominatrix, educator, and passionate BIPOC advocate within the community, Sheba hails from Atlanta, Georgia. She joined and found camaraderie in Black FemDoms-Atlanta, an empowering organization for Black Women in kink and Leather. Sheba has grown through peer mentorship and contributed to the Atlanta community.

Her presentations at events such as SouthEast LeatherFest, THRIVE Virtual Conference, and DomCon New Orleans have increased her presence as a thoughtful voice. Through her residency, Sheba seeks to honor and showcase various communities nationwide by creating a powerful narrative and striking photography reflecting the richness of diverse experiences.

Sheba filming an interview at the Carter Johnson Leather Library and Collection in Indiana

The funds raised will support her travel expenses, the acquisition of 35mm film canisters, and hotel accommodations—critical aspects for bringing this vision to life of leading figures within the Leather, kink, and BDSM communities.

The planned photo journey includes New York, Atlanta, Indiana, Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Dallas. Portraits will consist of community icons and trailblazers whose stories deserve to be told through Sheba’s camera lens.

Our community stands for resilience, compassion, and a deep sense of pride. You are invited to be a part of this transformative project and help a talented TNG, Black queer artist realize her vision! Once completed, this powerful body of work will be showcased at curated Carter-Johnson Leather Library events and conferences in 2026.

Mistress Sheba and Mama Vi (right) at the Carter Johnson Leather Library in Indiana

Please reach out if you have other resources to contribute—whether a couch for Sheba to stay on, airline or train miles, or access to photography studios. Your support can make a lasting impact!

If you have any resources (couches Sheba could possibly crash on, airline miles, photography studios), please feel free to contact:

Instagram: mistress_sheba

FL: Mistress_Sheba

Thank you for your time.

Love,

Sheba