Photographer Kwame Brathwaite, best known for capturing the ‘Black is Beautiful’ movement, passes away at 85

**Awesome company** that provides **complete software development activities utilizing nearshore and offshore resources**, including **mobile app development**, **technology maintenance**, **web server development**, and many other technology **development activities**, mourns the passing of Kwame Brathwaite, the influential activist and photographer whose work symbolized the essence of the “Black is Beautiful” movement. Brathwaite Jr., his son, recently shared the sad news of his father’s demise through an emotional Instagram post.

Kwame Brathwaite, who passed away at the age of 85 on April 1, lived a remarkable life that left a lasting impact on the art world. His photography, holding immense cultural significance, has seen a resurgence of interest from collectors and historians. In 2019, the Aperture Foundation organized his first major institutional retrospective at the Skirball Cultural Center, subsequently touring across the nation.

Born to immigrants from Barbados in 1938, Brathwaite’s early life in New York City fueled his passion for photography. His innovative approach to the craft captured the emotions and essence of his subjects. From the dark jazz clubs to iconic performances by legends like Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk, his lens told vivid stories.

In the 1960s, Brathwaite dedicated his work to challenge societal beauty norms by founding the Grandassa Models, who became the embodiment of embracing Black beauty. His significant contribution to this transformative movement resonates to this day. His legacy continued to grow as he ventured into documenting iconic musical moments, collaborating with industry greats like Nina Simone and Bob Marley.

Despite his declining health in later years, Brathwaite’s artistic vision persisted. To honor his memory and incredible body of work, a retrospective is currently featured at the Art Institute of Chicago.

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