Dario Calmese facts for kids

Dario Calmese is a talented African American artist and photographer. He made history by being the first African American to photograph the cover of Vanity Fair magazine. Dario is also a podcaster from Missouri. He hosts a podcast called Institute of Black Imagination.

Dario Calmese's Journey in Photography

Dario Calmese started his journey in photography in 2012. He was studying at the School of Visual Arts when he began taking pictures.

Early Work and Exhibitions

In 2015, some of Calmese's photos were shown in a special exhibition. These pictures featured Harlem fashion collector Lana Turner. This helped showcase his unique style and talent.

Working in Fashion

Dario Calmese also has a strong connection to the fashion world. In 2013, he started working with fashion designer Kerby Jean-Raymond. He first became the casting director for Jean-Raymond's fashion shows. Later, he took on the role of director for these shows. In 2019, Calmese directed a big fashion show for Pyer Moss. This event took place at the famous Kings Theater in Brooklyn.

Making History with Vanity Fair

A very important moment in Calmese's career happened in 2020. He photographed actress Viola Davis for the July/August cover of Vanity Fair magazine. This was a historic achievement. It was his first time shooting a major magazine cover. More importantly, it was the first Vanity Fair cover ever photographed by an African American.

Before this, Calmese had worked with Vanity Fair on other projects. He had photographed famous people like actor Billy Porter. He also took pictures of actor George MacKay and Broadway star Adrienne Warren for the magazine.