The New Black Vanguard: Photography between Art and Fashion

Aperture presents The New Black Vanguard: Photography Between Art and Fashion, a union of fifteen photographers of colour, all known for their unique and unconventional approach to representing race, beauty and sexuality through their art; challenging fashion photography as we known it.

Curated by critic and writer Antwaun Sargent, this collection of works “opens up a conversation around the role of the black body in the marketplace; the cross-pollination between art, fashion, and culture in constructing an image; and the institutional barriers that have historically impeded black photographers from participating more fully in the fashion (and art) industries.” Tyler Mitchell, the first black photographer to have shot a Vogue cover, Dana Scruggs and Stephen Tayo are only a few of the game-changing names showcased in this collection.

Not only reserved to photography, the book features a set of conversations between the featured artists, tackling topics such as black feminism in the fashion industry, changing conventional standards of beauty, defining sexuality and family, and more. 

The New Black Vanguard: Photography: Between Art and Fashion is on at Aperture until January 18th 2020, and can be purchased through Aperture’s website.