Kwame Brathwaite, the iconic photographer behind the "Black is Beautiful" movement of the 1960s and beyond, has passed away at the age of 85. His son announced his passing in an Instagram post, expressing his deep sadness over losing his father, a pillar of their family.
Throughout his illustrious career, Brathwaite's work has garnered renewed interest from curators, historians, and collectors in recent years. In 2019, his first major institutional retrospective, organized by the Aperture Foundation, debuted at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles before touring the country. This milestone marked a significant turning point in Brathwaite's legacy as an artist.
Born in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants in New York, Brathwaite grew up witnessing and experiencing racism firsthand. His journey as a photographer was sparked by two pivotal moments: encountering David Jackson's haunting photograph of Emmett Till in open casket in 1955 and observing a young Black man taking photographs without flash in a dark jazz club in 1956.
With his Hasselblad medium-format camera, Brathwaite honed the skill of capturing images with limited light. He also developed a distinct technique that enhanced the visual narrative of his work by deepening the appearance of Black skin. The photographer's subject matter expanded beyond jazz legends to other forms of popular Black music and cultural icons.
In 1974, Brathwaite traveled to Africa with the Jackson Five to document their tour, capturing the historic "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. He also photographed prominent figures like Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, Bob Marley, and many more.
Over several decades, Brathwaite continued to explore his photography style through the lens of "Black is Beautiful." In 2016, he joined Philip Martin Gallery in Los Angeles, and as recently as 2018, he photographed commissions for The New Yorker.
A testament to Brathwaite's enduring legacy is a retrospective currently on view at the Art Institute of Chicago, where it will remain until July 24.
Throughout his illustrious career, Brathwaite's work has garnered renewed interest from curators, historians, and collectors in recent years. In 2019, his first major institutional retrospective, organized by the Aperture Foundation, debuted at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles before touring the country. This milestone marked a significant turning point in Brathwaite's legacy as an artist.
Born in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants in New York, Brathwaite grew up witnessing and experiencing racism firsthand. His journey as a photographer was sparked by two pivotal moments: encountering David Jackson's haunting photograph of Emmett Till in open casket in 1955 and observing a young Black man taking photographs without flash in a dark jazz club in 1956.
With his Hasselblad medium-format camera, Brathwaite honed the skill of capturing images with limited light. He also developed a distinct technique that enhanced the visual narrative of his work by deepening the appearance of Black skin. The photographer's subject matter expanded beyond jazz legends to other forms of popular Black music and cultural icons.
In 1974, Brathwaite traveled to Africa with the Jackson Five to document their tour, capturing the historic "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. He also photographed prominent figures like Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, Bob Marley, and many more.
Over several decades, Brathwaite continued to explore his photography style through the lens of "Black is Beautiful." In 2016, he joined Philip Martin Gallery in Los Angeles, and as recently as 2018, he photographed commissions for The New Yorker.
A testament to Brathwaite's enduring legacy is a retrospective currently on view at the Art Institute of Chicago, where it will remain until July 24.
he was like a superhero from behind the lens, you know? his pics had power and soul, they didn't just capture people, they captured moments in history 
. and can u believe he's been gone for like, what, a few months already? it feels like we lost him yesterday 
. i mean, who else could make black skin look so beautiful and radiant? 
he was more than just a photographer, he was a messenger of love and acceptance 
. rest in peace, kwame 
. Man was a pioneer, captured history in his pics 
. Growing up with racism and all that, you'd think he wouldn't be so positive about it, but he turned it into something beautiful 
. The fact that his work is still getting recognition 40+ years after he started is a testament to his skill 
.
He was more than just a photographer, he was a historian, capturing moments that many people in our communities didn't get to see back then. I love how he took those images of jazz legends and popular Black music icons and brought them into the light... like Nina Simone's face is still radiating beauty even after all these years 
... btw, have you seen any of his photos? they're insane! 
I'm so glad his son is keeping his legacy alive, that's really cool. it's wild to think about how his photos have been sparking interest again after all these years 
, I'm still trying to wrap my head around this news... Kwame Brathwaite was like a legend in his own right 
, and I feel so lucky to have grown up hearing stories about him from my older relatives. His work was more than just photography - it was a movement 
, you know? He had this unique way of capturing the beauty in Black culture that's still revered today 
.
... and how they'd talk for hours about music, art, and life. My granddad was a huge fan of Brathwaite's work, and I think it's safe to say that his photography had a lasting impact on my family's perspective 
.
. Anyway, I'm gonna miss seeing his iconic photos all over Instagram and social media 
... RIP Kwame, you will be deeply missed 
.
just read that Kwame Brathwaite passed away at 85... what a shame he didn't live long enough to see his work get even more recognition 
. I mean, have you seen the prices of those vintage photos he took? it's like they're trying to rip him off after he's gone 
. anyway, i guess that retrospective in Chicago is supposed to be a big deal... but let's be real, it's just going to be a bunch of people pretending to care about his legacy 
Kwame was such an icon! I'm sad to hear that he's gone 
. Growing up in Barbados, I wish I had seen his work more back then 
. It's a must-see for anyone interested in art, history, or just beautiful photography 
I mean, that image is still so haunting and powerful today! How did his encounter with David Jackson's photography spark his journey as a photographer? Was it just a coincidence or was there something more to it?
but his legacy lives on 
like Nina Simone and Stevie Wonder 
what's really wild is thinkin' about all the iconic figures he photographed like Ali, Simone, and Wonder 
. anyway, RIP Kwame, your camera may be still, but your legacy will keep rolling on