Renowned photographer and activist Kwame Brathwaite has passed away at the age of 85. A key figure in the "Black is Beautiful" movement of the 1960s and beyond, his work continues to inspire new generations of curators, historians, and collectors.
Born in Brooklyn in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants, Brathwaite was exposed to photography at a young age. The images that had the greatest impact on him were those that captured moments of brutality and injustice - such as David Jackson's haunting photograph of Emmett Till's open casket in 1955. These experiences would shape his artistic vision and inspire him to create powerful works that celebrated the beauty of Black life.
One of Brathwaite's most notable projects was the "Grandassa Models," a group of young Black women who posed for him in the early 1960s, marking a deliberate departure from Eurocentric beauty standards. These models became icons of the movement, showcasing the beauty and strength of Black women.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite's focus shifted from jazz to other forms of popular music, including soul, R&B, and reggae. He photographed legendary artists such as Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley, capturing the essence of their performances on film.
Brathwaite continued to innovate in the decades that followed, exploring new techniques and mediums that remained true to his "Black is Beautiful" ethos. His photographs have been exhibited globally, including a major retrospective at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, which was on view until July 24.
In recent years, Brathwaite's health had begun to decline, preventing him from participating in some interviews and exhibitions. However, his legacy lives on through his work, inspiring new generations of artists and activists to continue pushing against the boundaries of what is considered beautiful and acceptable.
Brathwaite was married to Sikolo, one of the Grandassa Models whom he photographed, for over 50 years, until her passing in 2016. His son, Kwame Brathwaite Jr., has announced his father's passing on social media, paying tribute to a man who will be deeply missed by the art world and beyond.
With his passing, we lose a vital voice and image that captured the essence of Black life in the mid-20th century. However, through his photographs, exhibitions, and legacy, Brathwaite continues to inspire us to see ourselves and our world in a new light - one that celebrates beauty, strength, and resilience.
Born in Brooklyn in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants, Brathwaite was exposed to photography at a young age. The images that had the greatest impact on him were those that captured moments of brutality and injustice - such as David Jackson's haunting photograph of Emmett Till's open casket in 1955. These experiences would shape his artistic vision and inspire him to create powerful works that celebrated the beauty of Black life.
One of Brathwaite's most notable projects was the "Grandassa Models," a group of young Black women who posed for him in the early 1960s, marking a deliberate departure from Eurocentric beauty standards. These models became icons of the movement, showcasing the beauty and strength of Black women.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite's focus shifted from jazz to other forms of popular music, including soul, R&B, and reggae. He photographed legendary artists such as Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley, capturing the essence of their performances on film.
Brathwaite continued to innovate in the decades that followed, exploring new techniques and mediums that remained true to his "Black is Beautiful" ethos. His photographs have been exhibited globally, including a major retrospective at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, which was on view until July 24.
In recent years, Brathwaite's health had begun to decline, preventing him from participating in some interviews and exhibitions. However, his legacy lives on through his work, inspiring new generations of artists and activists to continue pushing against the boundaries of what is considered beautiful and acceptable.
Brathwaite was married to Sikolo, one of the Grandassa Models whom he photographed, for over 50 years, until her passing in 2016. His son, Kwame Brathwaite Jr., has announced his father's passing on social media, paying tribute to a man who will be deeply missed by the art world and beyond.
With his passing, we lose a vital voice and image that captured the essence of Black life in the mid-20th century. However, through his photographs, exhibitions, and legacy, Brathwaite continues to inspire us to see ourselves and our world in a new light - one that celebrates beauty, strength, and resilience.
just heard about Kwame Brathwaite's passing at 85... man, what can you even say? he was like a bridge between two eras, showing us the truth and the beauty of Black life back in the day. his work is still giving me chills to this day, you know? those "Grandassa Models" pics are still so iconic... 
i feel bad for his family, especially his son Kwame Brathwaite Jr., who's gotta carry on his legacy now. can't help but think about all the artists he photographed over the years - Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley... what a dream team 
and yeah, his influence is still being felt today. it's crazy to think that someone as young and full of life like him could leave us at 85... rest in peace, Kwame Brathwaite 
just heard about Kwame Brathwaite's passing and I'm feeling all the feels 
i mean, who else would've thought to capture the beauty in Black life back in the 60s? 
the Grandassa Models were more than just subjects for him, they were muses and icons 
his legacy will live on through his son Kwame Jr. and all the people whose lives he touched 
his work is like, totally iconic and still so relevant today. the way he showcased black life and beauty back in the 60s was like a breath of fresh air. i mean, who else was brave enough to challenge those eurocentric beauty standards? 
and can we talk about how amazing it is that his legacy lives on through his work and the women he photographed? like, sikolo was one of the grandassa models and now she's with him in spirit 
my heart goes out to his son kwame jr for sharing this news. 85 years young is no joke 
he took pics of the most powerful ppl in music & history but still showed us what's real about black life. I love how he used models like those Grandassa girls to break down them Eurocentric beauty standards it's crazy how much impact they had. His legacy is gonna live on tho, and I'm hyped to see all the new artists inspired by him gettin' their own shot
JUST HEARD THE NEWS ABOUT KWAME BRATHWAITE!!! HE WAS SUCH AN ICON AND A TRUE LEGEND IN THE WORLD OF PHOTOGRAPHY. HIS WORK IS TRULY INSPIRING AND CHANGED THE GAME FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. I MEAN WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO GROW UP WITH HIS IMAGES OF BLACK BEAUTY AS A ROLE MODEL? HE WAS ALL ABOUT CELEBRATING STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, AND BEAUTY, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME WHEN IT WAS NEEDED MOST. WE'RE GOING TO MISS HIM BUT THANKFULLY HIS WORK WILL LIVE ON AND KEEP INSPIRING US TO SEE OUrSELVES IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT 
kinda sad he didn't get to see it reach its full potential while he was still kicking... but hey, at least his legacy lives on and will keep inspiring people to take a closer look at what's beautiful 
finally someone with talent gets passed away too early... I mean i'm glad he got to leave a legacy but man 85 is old if u ask me, can't they do more for people like him who are still passionate about change? also why does the forum have to be so slow rn, i was trying to comment on this post and it took like 5 mins to load... 
I remember hearing my parents talk about the Grandassa Models and how they were so ahead of their time. They're still giving me chills thinking about them... I'm gonna miss seeing what Kwame was working on next, but his spirit will live on through all the artists and activists he inspired 
. He may have been a quiet figure behind the camera, but his impact on art and social justice is huge 
. It's crazy to think he was only 85 when he passed - it feels like just yesterday he was still creating and innovating in his field 
. Anyways, let's celebrate his life and work by keeping his legacy alive and sharing his photography with the world 
? It's not just about the pics themselves, it's about the messages he conveyed through them - that Black life is worthy of love, respect, and admiration 
, I can appreciate how his work still resonates today. We could all learn from his passion and dedication to creating change 
. Rest in peace, Kwame 
his work was sooo inspirin & it's still makin waves today 
he showd us that black life is beautiful too 
& i think thats somethin we need to keep remindin ourselves of 
the way he exploid the beauty of black women thru his "Grandassa Models" project was pure genius 
they were so gorgeous & confident in a time when black women weren't always represented in that way. his photography is still so powerful today, it's crazy how much beauty and strength he captured back then 
anyhoo, i'm sure his legacy will live on through his son and the new gen of artists and activists who are inspired by him 
... i mean, who else can say they photographed nina simone and bob marley? legend