Legendary Photographer and Activist Kwame Brathwaite Dies at 85
Renowned photographer and activist Kwame Brathwaite has passed away at the age of 85. Born in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants, Brathwaite's work helped define the aesthetics of the 'Black is Beautiful' movement of the 1960s and beyond.
Brathwaite's journey into photography began when he encountered David Jackson's haunting photograph of Emmett Till's open casket in 1955. The encounter sparked his interest in capturing the beauty and truth of Black life. He co-founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) with his brother Elombe, where they used their combined talents to push back against whitewashed beauty standards.
Through AJASS, Brathwaite developed a unique approach to photography that celebrated Black skin and culture. His first major institutional retrospective, organized by the Aperture Foundation, debuted in 2019 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles before touring across the country.
Brathwaite's subjects included jazz legends like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk, as well as musicians Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, Bob Marley, Nina Simone, and many others. His work continued to evolve over the decades, reflecting his commitment to capturing the essence of Black culture.
One of Brathwaite's most enduring legacies is his photography series featuring the Grandassa Models, young Black women who celebrated their natural beauty and became icons of the 'Black is Beautiful' movement. His 1962 fashion show, "Naturally '62," was a groundbreaking event that showcased these models and cemented Brathwaite's place in the history of African American culture.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite received numerous commissions from esteemed institutions and artists. In recent years, he joined Philip Martin Gallery in Los Angeles and continued to photograph commissions until 2018.
Despite struggling with poor health, which prevented him from being interviewed for a T Magazine profile in 2021, Brathwaite's work remains a testament to his unwavering commitment to celebrating Black beauty and culture. His retrospective is currently on view at the Art Institute of Chicago until July 24.
Renowned photographer and activist Kwame Brathwaite has passed away at the age of 85. Born in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants, Brathwaite's work helped define the aesthetics of the 'Black is Beautiful' movement of the 1960s and beyond.
Brathwaite's journey into photography began when he encountered David Jackson's haunting photograph of Emmett Till's open casket in 1955. The encounter sparked his interest in capturing the beauty and truth of Black life. He co-founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) with his brother Elombe, where they used their combined talents to push back against whitewashed beauty standards.
Through AJASS, Brathwaite developed a unique approach to photography that celebrated Black skin and culture. His first major institutional retrospective, organized by the Aperture Foundation, debuted in 2019 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles before touring across the country.
Brathwaite's subjects included jazz legends like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk, as well as musicians Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, Bob Marley, Nina Simone, and many others. His work continued to evolve over the decades, reflecting his commitment to capturing the essence of Black culture.
One of Brathwaite's most enduring legacies is his photography series featuring the Grandassa Models, young Black women who celebrated their natural beauty and became icons of the 'Black is Beautiful' movement. His 1962 fashion show, "Naturally '62," was a groundbreaking event that showcased these models and cemented Brathwaite's place in the history of African American culture.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite received numerous commissions from esteemed institutions and artists. In recent years, he joined Philip Martin Gallery in Los Angeles and continued to photograph commissions until 2018.
Despite struggling with poor health, which prevented him from being interviewed for a T Magazine profile in 2021, Brathwaite's work remains a testament to his unwavering commitment to celebrating Black beauty and culture. His retrospective is currently on view at the Art Institute of Chicago until July 24.
He was like a hero to me, always celebrating Black beauty and culture in his work 
The way he captured jazz legends and young Black women on film is truly inspiring 
I loved how his photography series featuring the Grandassa Models became icons of the 'Black is Beautiful' movement 
It's amazing that his work continues to evolve and inspire new generations 
His legacy will live on through his photos, but it's also so important to remember him as a person who fought against whitewashed beauty standards 
. He was truly a pioneer in capturing the beauty and essence of Black life, especially during the '60s movement 
. His work is still so powerful today, celebrating natural beauty and challenging whitewashed standards 
. The fact that his retrospective is still on view at the Art Institute of Chicago is a great reminder of his impact 
.
Kwame Brathwaite was like a superhero to me - always fighting for truth and beauty 
He paved the way for so many Black photographers and artists, and his work is still giving us life today 
I remember reading about his first exhibition in 2019 and just being blown away by the images 
like, who else was doin' that back then? 
And to think he started out inspired by this one photo of Emmett Till's open casket... that's heavy stuff 
The way he celebrated Black culture and beauty is still so relevant today. His photography series featuring the Grandassa Models was a game-changer for young Black women everywhere. It's like Stevie Wonder said, "If music be the food of love, play on." Kwame Brathwaite played on, using his camera to spread love and acceptance. 
those young Black women were (and still are) serving looks and celebrating their natural beauty in a time when it wasn't always accepted. anyway, Kwame Brathwaite's legacy will live on through his art & the countless people he's inspired - we're gonna miss him 
Kwame Brathwaite was like a true legend behind the camera. I mean, can you believe he was only 85? It's crazy how much impact he had on photography and culture. I remember seeing his pics from back in the day and being blown away by how beautiful and raw they were. The way he celebrated Black skin and culture is still so inspiring to this day 
. He may not be with us anymore, but his legacy lives on through his amazing work 
. But what really gets me is how he celebrated Black culture in a time when it wasn't always widely accepted... like, imagine being part of a world where you get to show off your natural beauty and not be shamed for it 
. Anyway, 85 years young is still pretty impressive 
Kwame Brathwaite was more than just a photographer, he was a movement 
And now we've got to figure out who's gonna carry on his legacy 
just heard about Kwame Brathwaite passing away at 85 ... what a legend 
. what a legacy, I feel so grateful for the art he left behind 
"Black is Beautiful" was more than just an aesthetic movement it was a cultural revolution that needed artists like Kwame to push boundaries and challenge whitewashed standards. His work continues to inspire me to be a better activist and advocate for representation and equality 
