Renowned photographer Anthony Barboza’s work showcased at Freeport Art Alcove for Black History Month

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The work of world-renowned photographer Anthony Barboza, whose prolific career has spanned more than five decades, will be showcased at the Freeport Recreation Center’s Art Alcove – curated by the Long Island Arts Council at Freeport – starting on Sunday.

The LIACF’s celebration of Black History Month inspired the selection of photos to be displayed, offering the community an opportunity to engage with the visual narratives of Black culture and history through Barboza’s lens.

A reception to celebrate the exhibit will take place on Feb. 1, from 12 to 2 p.m., in the rec. center’s lobby, in front of the alcove. The exhibit will remain up until the end of February.

Barboza, 80, born in 1944 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, moved to New York City in 1963, at the age of 19, shortly before he became a member of the Kamoinge Workshop, a collective of Black photographers dedicated to capturing the essence of Black life in complexity rather than in a stereotypical manner.

Kamoinge can be translated as “a group of people who are working together,” and comes from the Kikuyu language, spoken primarily in Kenya. Barboza later served as the workshop’s president, from 2005 to 2016.

His work spans various genres, including fashion, street photography and album art. His career highlights include photographing icons such as Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, Grace Jones and James Baldwin.

“The more you do, the more you become visual to other people,” Barboza told the Herald about his decision to display his photography at the alcove.

His work is known for its deep cultural resonance and storytelling quality, often reflecting the essence of his subjects in a way that transcends mere imagery.

Among the pieces featured in the Freeport exhibit will be a photograph from his groundbreaking 1970s series “Rapping,” originally published in Essence magazine.

The series, set in Harlem, was the first fashion shoot of its kind done in the neighborhood and told the story of two men attempting to impress two women, blending fashion with cultural narrative.

Another notable piece to be exhibited is “The Red Tongue,” part of Barboza’s “Spiritual Echo” series, meant to depict Barboza’s rendering of having his ancestors speak to him. The photo was shot using a 20-by-24 Polaroid camera.

Barboza’s influence extends beyond photography into advertising, having worked with brands such as Coca-Cola, L’Oréal, and Sony.

His 2022 photography book, “Eye Dreaming,” published by the Getty Museum, provides a comprehensive look into his career and artistic vision, capturing portraits of celebrities and everyday individuals alike.

“The word ‘Eye Dreaming’ is like a state of mind when you are walking the streets or even during the studio, you get into this mental position that you’re sort of dreaming,” he said. “You reflect back on your childhood and everything else that you’ve learned up to that point, and then there will be certain types of photographs that would represent that.”

Reflecting on his career, Barboza shared insights about what drew him to photography as an art form. Barboza’s journey into photography began in his youth, influenced by his fascination with magazines and images that captured fleeting moments in time.

“It’s about the time,” he said. “I mean, in a fraction of a second, you have an image that represents that time, and that’s fascinating to me.”

He was first introduced to the medium as a Boy Scout, though he initially found it too challenging to pursue seriously.

He credited his aunt for introducing him to Kamoinge Workshop, which set him on his professional path, with the group helping to guide him through the complexities of the craft.

“It’s difficult for Black photographers to get work in the city,” he said about his early days in the industry. “For instance, when Ebony magazine was coming out all these years, all the ads in there were done by a white photographer.”

Barboza, however, persevered, finding work with companies such as Abraham & Straus or the advertising agency Uniworld, which was founded by a Black man.

Throughout his career, Barboza has shot advertisements for major corporations, including Burger King, Revlon and General Motors, and has contributed to prominent publications such as The New York Times Magazine, Vogue and Ebony.

His portfolio includes shooting more than 300 album covers across various music genres, ranging from jazz to hip-hop.

“We’re extremely thrilled to be able to present Anthony’s amazing work to our Freeport community,” Larry Dresner, the art council’s executive director, said. “Patrons both new and familiar with his work will be engaged by his unique creativity and perspective.”