Dawoud Bey

This book showcases Dawoud Bey's impactful photography, exploring themes of race and history through powerful portraits and landscapes.

This book presents a compelling exploration of race, history, time, and place through the lens of Dawoud Bey's photography. With a striking juxtaposition of portraiture and landscape, Dawoud Bey captures the essence of underrepresented communities while fostering critical dialogue about contemporary social and political issues. Bey's work is characterized by large-scale portraits that celebrate the humanity of his subjects, inviting viewers to engage with their stories and experiences.

In Dawoud Bey, two significant series are featured for the first time, shedding light on African American history. The Birmingham Project, created in 2012, memorializes the six children who lost their lives in the tragic bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. This poignant series of paired portraits serves as a powerful reminder of the past, while also encouraging reflection on the ongoing struggles for civil rights.

Additionally, the book showcases Night Coming Tenderly, Black, a series of evocative black-and-white landscapes from 2017 that reimagine the locations of the Underground Railroad in Ohio. These images create a dialogue between the past and present, revealing the enduring impact of history on contemporary society. Accompanying essays delve into the significance of these works within Bey's broader oeuvre, highlighting their interconnections and the profound themes they address.