Tyler Mitchell (photographer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tyler Mitchell
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Mitchell in 2020
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| Born | April 12, 1995 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | New York University |
| Occupation | Photographer |
| Years active | 2014–present |
Tyler Mitchell (born April 12, 1995) is a talented American photographer. He lives in Brooklyn, New York. Tyler is most famous for taking the amazing cover photo of Beyoncé for Vogue magazine.
Contents
Tyler's Early Life
Tyler grew up in Marietta, Georgia. When he was in ninth grade, he bought a Canon camera. He taught himself how to make cool skateboarding videos.
A filmmaker named Spike Jonze inspired him. Tyler learned to edit videos by watching YouTube tutorials. He went to The Westminster Schools in Atlanta.
In 2015, Tyler visited Havana, Cuba. He was part of a six-week photography program there. He took many pictures of skateboarding and buildings in Havana. At just 20 years old, he turned these photos into a 108-page book called El Paquete.
Tyler later studied at New York University Tisch School of the Arts. He learned about making films and TV shows. He studied with Deborah Willis and finished college in 2017.
His Photography Career
Before his big Vogue cover, Tyler had lots of experience. He made and edited short films at home. He also shot music videos for rapper Kevin Abstract while in college.
Tyler also worked with Teen Vogue. He photographed young people who were activists for gun control. This was for the magazine's online issue.
A few months later, Tyler made history. He became the first African American to photograph a cover for American Vogue. He was also one of the youngest photographers ever to do it. In 2019, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery bought one of his Beyoncé portraits. It is now part of their permanent collection.
Tyler has also worked with big companies. These include Marc Jacobs, JW Anderson, Converse, Nike, Givenchy, and Loewe. His work includes fashion photos and art projects. He often explores topics like identity in his films and pictures.
In 2019, Tyler had his first solo art show. It was at the Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The show was called I Can Make You Feel Good. It featured his videos, photos, and art installations. This exhibition later traveled to the International Center of Photography in New York.
In 2021, Tyler worked with Michael Rooks from the High Museum of Art. They created an exhibition about the culture of the Southern United States. It was called Idyllic Space. This show featured photos of Black men, women, and children. They were shown in nature and at home. Tyler said these photos show a perfect, dream-like vision of Black life. He wants viewers to imagine their own "unreachable perfect" world.
Tyler's Style and Impact
People praise Tyler for showing different sides of Black life. He calls it a "Black utopic vision." His I Can Make You Feel Good exhibition shows Black people enjoying everyday life. Many photos are taken outdoors. The New York Times said this challenges old art ideas. It shows that relaxing time is not just for wealthy white people. Tyler also uses his fashion photography to reclaim culture.
Tyler says Ryan McGinley and Larry Clark were early inspirations. Other artists like Kehinde Wiley, Jamel Shabazz, and Nadine Ijewere have similar styles to his.
Exhibitions
- I'm Doing Pretty Hood in My Pink Polo, Red Hook Labs Gallery and Aperture Gallery, 2018
- Labs New Artists II (group exhibition), Red Hook Labs Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, June 2018
- The Way We Live Now (group exhibition), Aperture Foundation, New York City June – August 2018
- I Can Make You Feel Good, Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam, April–June 2019
- I Can Make You Feel Good, International Center of Photography, Jan 2020 – May 2020
- Idyllic Space, High Museum of Art, June 2024 – December 2024
Books
- I Can Make You Feel Good. 2020. ISBN: 9783791386089
Awards
- Forbes 30 under 30 - Art & Style 2019
- British Fashion Council - New Wave Creative
- Dazed Digital - Dazed 100 2016
- BET - BET's Future 40 list 2020
- 2021 Award for Editorial, Advertising and Fashion Photography, Royal Photographic Society
