Renowned Photographer Kwame Brathwaite Dies at 85, Leaving Behind Lasting Legacy of 'Black is Beautiful'
Kwame Brathwaite, the trailblazing photographer and activist who helped shape the iconic "Black is Beautiful" movement of the 1960s, has passed away at the age of 85. His passing marks the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy of powerful images that continue to inspire and influence artists, curators, and collectors around the world.
Born in Brooklyn in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants, Brathwaite's early life was marked by a sense of displacement and cultural identity crisis. However, it was during his teenage years that he discovered his passion for photography, sparked by two pivotal moments: witnessing David Jackson's haunting photograph of Emmett Till's open casket and being captivated by the work of a young photographer in a Harlem jazz club.
Brathwaite's innovative approach to photography, which involved experimenting with limited light and developing a darkroom technique that enriched the visual narrative of his images, quickly gained attention. He went on to photograph jazz legends, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and others, capturing their performances and essence.
However, it was his work with the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS), which he co-founded in 1956, that had a profound impact on the art world. Alongside his brother Elombe, Brathwaite developed the concept of the Grandassa Models, young Black women whose natural beauty and features were celebrated through his photographs. The first Grandassa Model show, "Naturally '62," was held in 1962, marking a turning point in the fight against whitewashed beauty standards.
Throughout the decades, Brathwaite continued to push boundaries with his photography, exploring various forms of popular Black music and collaborating with notable artists such as Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, and Bob Marley. His work also took him to Africa, where he documented the Jackson Five's tour in 1974 and photographed the historic "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match.
In recent years, Brathwaite's photographs have experienced a resurgence of interest, with major exhibitions at institutions such as the Aperture Foundation, Skirball Cultural Center, Blanton Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Despite his passing, Brathwaite's legacy lives on through the countless artists, curators, and collectors who continue to draw inspiration from his work.
The photographer's son, Kwame Brathwaite Jr., announced his father's death in an Instagram post, describing him as "the patriarch of our family, our rock and my hero." As news of Brathwaite's passing spreads, the art world is left to mourn the loss of a true icon, whose photographs continue to inspire and educate audiences around the world.
Kwame Brathwaite, the trailblazing photographer and activist who helped shape the iconic "Black is Beautiful" movement of the 1960s, has passed away at the age of 85. His passing marks the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy of powerful images that continue to inspire and influence artists, curators, and collectors around the world.
Born in Brooklyn in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants, Brathwaite's early life was marked by a sense of displacement and cultural identity crisis. However, it was during his teenage years that he discovered his passion for photography, sparked by two pivotal moments: witnessing David Jackson's haunting photograph of Emmett Till's open casket and being captivated by the work of a young photographer in a Harlem jazz club.
Brathwaite's innovative approach to photography, which involved experimenting with limited light and developing a darkroom technique that enriched the visual narrative of his images, quickly gained attention. He went on to photograph jazz legends, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and others, capturing their performances and essence.
However, it was his work with the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS), which he co-founded in 1956, that had a profound impact on the art world. Alongside his brother Elombe, Brathwaite developed the concept of the Grandassa Models, young Black women whose natural beauty and features were celebrated through his photographs. The first Grandassa Model show, "Naturally '62," was held in 1962, marking a turning point in the fight against whitewashed beauty standards.
Throughout the decades, Brathwaite continued to push boundaries with his photography, exploring various forms of popular Black music and collaborating with notable artists such as Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, and Bob Marley. His work also took him to Africa, where he documented the Jackson Five's tour in 1974 and photographed the historic "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match.
In recent years, Brathwaite's photographs have experienced a resurgence of interest, with major exhibitions at institutions such as the Aperture Foundation, Skirball Cultural Center, Blanton Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Despite his passing, Brathwaite's legacy lives on through the countless artists, curators, and collectors who continue to draw inspiration from his work.
The photographer's son, Kwame Brathwaite Jr., announced his father's death in an Instagram post, describing him as "the patriarch of our family, our rock and my hero." As news of Brathwaite's passing spreads, the art world is left to mourn the loss of a true icon, whose photographs continue to inspire and educate audiences around the world.
just thought about Kwame Brathwaite's work and how it was all about celebrating Black beauty and challenging traditional norms... it's crazy to think he passed away at 85 but his legacy lives on through all the artists and curators who've been inspired by him 
i'm literally heartbroken he was such an icon in the photography world and his legacy lives on thru his amazing work 
i remember learning about him in school and being blown away by his pics of jazz legends like miles davis and john coltrane 
he was also super ahead of his time with his "black is beautiful" movement, which is still relevant today 
i feel so bad for his son kwame jr who has to deal with losing his dad at such an old age 
but at least we have his incredible work to keep his memory alive 
. He was an amazing photographer who helped change the game for Black artists. The way he showcased the beauty of Black women through his Grandassa Models is still so inspiring today 
. And it's awesome that his work is still being celebrated and exhibited in major museums around the world 
. He may be gone but his legacy lives on through all the artists and collectors who are inspired by his photography 
.
it's wild how his work has inspired so many people especially young artists today i feel bad that he's not around to see the impact his legacy is having on the art world but i'm glad his son is carrying on his work and showing everyone what he's about 
he found beauty in his own cultural identity crisis... it's like when i was struggling with my own sense of belonging online. he turned that into something powerful, instead of letting it consume him. his work didn't just celebrate Blackness, but also human connection & vulnerability. we can all learn from embracing our imperfections & sharing them with the world 
just read about Kwame Brathwaite's passing 
the fact that artists are still finding inspiration in his pics is just amazing 
, can't believe he's gone, his work on the black is beautiful movement is still so inspiring today 
, i mean imagine bein in a time when people were tellin you that dark skin wasn't beautiful, but he was over here creatin some of the most stunning photos of black models and jazz legends 
he must've seen so many things change in his lifetime and still managed to keep pushing boundaries with his photography its crazy how some legacy lives on even after someone's gone 
he captured the beauty in everything from jazz legends to african landscapes 
anyway, just thinking about all the amazing pics he took makes me wanna go dig out my old photo albums from back in the day 
. I love how his legacy lives on through his son's Instagram post 
. It's crazy to think about how much of an impact he had on the art world 
.
and his photography is still so powerful today, its like looking at history through his lens 
kwame brathwaite may be gone but his legacy lives on and we should keep celebrating his work 
I mean, can you imagine the world without his powerful images & legacy? 
It's also incredible that he was able to capture the essence of jazz legends and other iconic figures through his lens... what a privilege for those who knew him! 
i mean can you even imagine the art world without his work? his legacy is still so vibrant and alive today 
rest in peace, kwame brathwaite 
. He also photographed some amazing jazz legends and was part of the African Jazz Arts Society, which is like, so cool. I'm gonna miss seeing his photos and hearing about what he did 
can't believe we're losin a piece of art history
. I also wish there was more user-generated content or sharing features for fans and collectors to showcase their own love for his work 
.