Kwame Brathwaite, a talented photographer who devoted his life’s work to the “Black is Beautiful” movement, has passed away at the age of 85.

Born in Brooklyn to parents who had immigrated from Barbados, Brathwaite attended the School of Industrial Art and was inspired to pursue photography after seeing images of Emmett Till and witnessing a photographer capturing images without flash in a jazz club.

Throughout his career, Brathwaite continued to produce works, including commissioned work for The New Yorker. His work has gained renewed interest in recent years, with the Aperture Foundation organizing his first major institutional exhibit in 2019.

Brathwaite’s son announced his passing on social media and an outpouring of love and appreciation followed. His last exhibit, “Kwame Brathwaite: Things Well Worth Waiting For,” is currently on display at the Art Institute of Chicago until July 24th.