THE FIRST TIME I saw the photography of Brooklyn based artist MICAIAH CARTER in the fall of 2016 at Parsons School of Design…I knew he was going to be successful. A self described recluse, he was not social in college, he just put his head down and quietly got to work. Mentoring and guiding him through his senior year was one of the true joys of my long teaching career. The unique gift that 30 years of experience in the art world and 16 years teaching at one of the most prestigious art schools in the world has given me, is the ability to spot artistic talent and potential – immediately.

Micaiah’s portraits are sincere, dignified representations of the sitters while staying true to his distinctive aesthetic – a modern day combination of Roy DeCarava’s poetic, lyrical, emotional photographs – and the proud, regal and formal portraits by Harlem Renaissance photographer, James Van Der Zee – all of them achingly beautiful.

The work is soft hued with a 1970’s tone and vibe that pay homage to his family history and father’s scrapbook. In some works, Micaiah consciously references his father’s early life and dated fashion and with total reverence, creates exquisite, inspired images, that can only be interpreted as stunning.

Micaiah has been out of school for less than 3 years and in that short amount of time has photographed a distinguished and impressive list of celebrities, athletes, musicians, and artists: Spike Lee, Serena Williams, Taraji P. Henson, Solange Knowles, Kehinde Wiley, Zendaya, Terrence Nance, Jorja Smith, Ciara, Duckie Thot, Dev Hynes, Moses Sumney, and Cortez Kenny IV.

Navigating his young career like a seasoned artist, he has worked with: The New York Times, Time Magazine, Warner Bros Records, Epic Records, Nike, Puma, Adidas, Showtime, A24 Films, Pepsi, Converse, Apple, Vice, Afropunk, i-D, Document Journal, Elle, Nylon, Paper, V Magazine and a fashion shoot for designer, Thom Browne .

In the next 2 months alone, he will have a 12-page spread in Vanity Fair, photographs in Vogue, and GQ magazines as well as a portrait in the Wall Street Journal, simultaneously. In this day and age, photographers are no longer anonymous, they are celebrities themselves. It is in stark contrast to Michaiah’s introverted nature to be front and center, but he’s handling this new found success like a pro.

BB, 2016

One of Micaiah’s many major accomplishments post-graduation, was an exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum in February of 2018. An exciting collaboration with the sports brand Adidas, highlighting 7 black creatives who symbolize the future, alongside historical artifacts from the Adidas archive representing the past.

Walking into that museum exhibition my heart swelled with immense pride. That moment was confirmation that my first instinct on that fall day in 2016 was correct… MICAIAH CARTER is the one to watch, he is the new generation…watch him rise.

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