Legendary photographer and activist Kwame Brathwaite has passed away at the age of 85. Born in Brooklyn to Barbadian immigrants, Brathwaite's work with limited light and his unique approach to capturing Black beauty have left a lasting impact on the art world.
The pioneer behind the "Black is Beautiful" movement, Brathwaite began his journey as a photographer at just 17 years old after witnessing David Jackson's powerful image of Emmett Till in open casket. He was inspired by the young man taking photos in a jazz club without flash and saw endless possibilities. Using a Hasselblad camera, Brathwaite honed his skills in the darkroom to create stunning portraits that celebrated Black skin.
Brathwaite's work went beyond fashion photography; he also captured iconic images of jazz legends like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk. His goal was always to capture the mood and feeling of a performance, as he once said in an interview with Aperture Magazine. He continued to push boundaries by photographing influential figures such as Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley.
The Grandassa Models, a group Brathwaite founded alongside his brother Elombe, were the focus of his photography. These young Black women celebrated their natural beauty, challenging Eurocentric standards of beauty. In 1962, AJASS organized "Naturally '62," a groundbreaking fashion show that showcased Brathwaite's work.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite continued to explore and develop his unique style, collaborating with notable artists like Philip Martin Gallery in Los Angeles. His commitment to the "Black is Beautiful" ethos remained unwavering until his passing.
Brathwaite's legacy lives on through his photographs and the impact they've had on the art world. As a testament to his enduring influence, an exhibition of his work is currently on view at the Art Institute of Chicago.
The pioneer behind the "Black is Beautiful" movement, Brathwaite began his journey as a photographer at just 17 years old after witnessing David Jackson's powerful image of Emmett Till in open casket. He was inspired by the young man taking photos in a jazz club without flash and saw endless possibilities. Using a Hasselblad camera, Brathwaite honed his skills in the darkroom to create stunning portraits that celebrated Black skin.
Brathwaite's work went beyond fashion photography; he also captured iconic images of jazz legends like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk. His goal was always to capture the mood and feeling of a performance, as he once said in an interview with Aperture Magazine. He continued to push boundaries by photographing influential figures such as Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley.
The Grandassa Models, a group Brathwaite founded alongside his brother Elombe, were the focus of his photography. These young Black women celebrated their natural beauty, challenging Eurocentric standards of beauty. In 1962, AJASS organized "Naturally '62," a groundbreaking fashion show that showcased Brathwaite's work.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite continued to explore and develop his unique style, collaborating with notable artists like Philip Martin Gallery in Los Angeles. His commitment to the "Black is Beautiful" ethos remained unwavering until his passing.
Brathwaite's legacy lives on through his photographs and the impact they've had on the art world. As a testament to his enduring influence, an exhibition of his work is currently on view at the Art Institute of Chicago.
he showed us that our skin is beautiful and worthy of being celebrated. I love how he used limited light to create stunning portraits that made people feel seen and appreciated. His work with the Grandassa Models was so ahead of its time - they were challenging the status quo and making a statement about natural beauty.
The fact that his legacy lives on through exhibitions and the impact his work has had on the art world is truly inspiring.
. i mean, he started taking pics when he was just 17 and looked at those images of emmett till... it must've been so powerful for him. and then he just took off with his own vision of capturing black beauty. that's the thing about inspiration - it can strike us anywhere, anytime. we gotta be open to seeing the world through someone else's eyes 
. and sometimes, it takes a bit of courage to chase our dreams, but kwame brathwaite did just that, and look at what he accomplished 
. his legacy is like a reminder that we all have the power to make a difference, no matter how small we might feel in the moment 
I'm literally shocked to hear about Kwame Brathwaite passing away... 85 years young is still SO impressive and he's left us with so much love and light through his photography 
! The man was a total game-changer, pushing boundaries and celebrating Black beauty for decades. I mean, can you even imagine the art world without him? 
He inspired generations of artists and activists to follow in his footsteps. His legacy will live on forever, and I'm so grateful we got to witness it during our lifetime. Let's take a moment to appreciate the work he did, especially with the Black is Beautiful movement... it was a total revolution! 
Kwame Brathwaite was truly a legend and his work is still giving me chills to this day! I mean can you even imagine having your work inspire a whole movement like "Black is Beautiful" and changing the game for fashion photography? The fact that he took those young Black women from The Grandassa Models under his wing and showcased their natural beauty, it's just so beautiful. And the way he captured Miles Davis, Nina Simone... the list goes on! 
His legacy will definitely be remembered for a long time, I'm planning to check out that exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago ASAP 
. it's amazing that his work is still being showcased at the art institute of chicago, keeping his legacy alive 
... gotta get my fix of formatting while reading about this incredible photographer 
. He paved the way for so many other photographers and artists to follow in his footsteps. And I love how he continued to push boundaries throughout his career, photographing some of the most iconic figures in music and art 
