Renowned photographer and activist Kwame Brathwaite has passed away at the age of 85. A pioneer in the 'Black is Beautiful' movement, his work continues to inspire and influence generations of artists, curators, historians, and collectors.
Born in 1938, Brathwaite's journey as a photographer was shaped by two pivotal moments - one in 1955 when he saw David Jackson's haunting image of Emmett Till's open casket, and another in 1956, where he met a young Black woman taking photos without flash at a jazz club, sparking his desire to capture the beauty of Black culture.
Through his work with the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS), Brathwaite co-founded the concept of the Grandassa Models, young Black women whose features he celebrated through his photography. In 1962, AJASS organized "Naturally '62", a fashion show held in Harlem that showcased the models and became an annual event until 1992.
Brathwaite's photographs not only captured the beauty of Black culture but also conveyed the emotional essence of jazz legends like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley. His lens documented pivotal moments in African history, such as Muhammad Ali's "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite continued to explore and develop his photography style through the lens of 'Black is Beautiful'. In 2016, he joined Philip Martin Gallery in Los Angeles, and in 2018, he photographed artist Joanne Petit-Frère for The New Yorker.
A retrospective of his work has been on view at various institutions including the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, where a separate exhibition, "Kwame Brathwaite: Things Well Worth Waiting For," is currently being held until July 24.
As the art world mourns the loss of this visionary photographer and activist, his legacy continues to inspire new generations to celebrate Black culture, beauty, and identity.
Born in 1938, Brathwaite's journey as a photographer was shaped by two pivotal moments - one in 1955 when he saw David Jackson's haunting image of Emmett Till's open casket, and another in 1956, where he met a young Black woman taking photos without flash at a jazz club, sparking his desire to capture the beauty of Black culture.
Through his work with the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS), Brathwaite co-founded the concept of the Grandassa Models, young Black women whose features he celebrated through his photography. In 1962, AJASS organized "Naturally '62", a fashion show held in Harlem that showcased the models and became an annual event until 1992.
Brathwaite's photographs not only captured the beauty of Black culture but also conveyed the emotional essence of jazz legends like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley. His lens documented pivotal moments in African history, such as Muhammad Ali's "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite continued to explore and develop his photography style through the lens of 'Black is Beautiful'. In 2016, he joined Philip Martin Gallery in Los Angeles, and in 2018, he photographed artist Joanne Petit-Frère for The New Yorker.
A retrospective of his work has been on view at various institutions including the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, where a separate exhibition, "Kwame Brathwaite: Things Well Worth Waiting For," is currently being held until July 24.
As the art world mourns the loss of this visionary photographer and activist, his legacy continues to inspire new generations to celebrate Black culture, beauty, and identity.
just lost another legend 
Kwame Brathwaite was like a pioneer in his own right, not just for Black culture but for photography itself 
his work is still giving us LIFE today 
and I'm loving the fact that his legacy lives on through all these amazing exhibitions and retrospectives 
it's so fitting that he got to see "Things Well Worth Waiting For" come together, what a beautiful way to leave this earth 
rest in peace, Kwame 
. I mean, 85 is old for a photographer, especially one who was so active in the art world till his passing. He's left behind an incredible body of work that celebrates Black culture in all its beauty 
. It's amazing to think about how his photography helped shape the 'Black is Beautiful' movement and inspired so many young people to find their own voice through art. And can you believe he was still out there taking photos and creating new work till 2018? 
He's definitely left a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire us for years to come 
i just learned about Kwame Brathwaite yesterday... who was he again? 
so he was a photographer and an activist, right? what did he do that was so inspiring for people? 
also, who are all those jazz legends in his pics? 
i love music, btw...
, kwame brathwaite wasnt just a photographer, he was like a movement, you feel me? 
his pics of black culture were so fire that they changed the game 
& now ppl r makin exhibitions about him at institutions all over 
the fact that his legacy will keep inspiring people is a good thing though lets just take a moment to appreciate all the amazing things he did 
remember seeing those grandassa models pics back in the day - they were so inspiring to me & i can see how they paved the way for more diverse representation in art today 
But what really gets me is how he was inspired by a young Black woman taking photos without flash at a jazz club in 1956 
... that's when it clicked for him and the rest is history 
. And can we talk about his photography style? So moody and evocative, it's like you're right there with him capturing the essence of jazz legends and African history 
. I'm gonna have to check out that retrospective at Blanton Museum of Art... RIP Kwame Brathwaite 
I'm so saddened to hear about Kwame Brathwaite's passing at 85 
. His photography lens captured so much more than just beauty, but also history & emotion 
.