“Untitled (Garvey Day, Deedee in Car)” (c. 1965, printed 2018), archival pigment print
On 4/1/2023 at the age of 85, Kwame Brathwaite transitioned into the ancestral realm.
“As a career photographer, Brathwaite was best recognized for his work in pop culture and media rather than in the white walls of galleries and exhibition venues. Through his representation at Philip Martin Gallery in Los Angeles, California, Brathwaite’s iconic photography has been featured in solo exhibitions, group shows, and art fairs over the last decade. The Aperture Foundation also organized a traveling exhibition honoring Brathwaite’s contributions to the “Black is Beautiful” movement that moved from coast to coast between 2019 and 2020. Contemporary Black artists today credit Brathwaite’s photography as inspiration for their craft, including Barbadian singer Rihanna who used his “Black is Beautiful”-era photography as a parallel to her own imagery for her Fenty clothing line ad campaign.” from Hyperalleric
May we never forget what Brathwaite exclaimed to the world... “Black is Beautiful”