Ricky Powell, a renowned American photographer, devoted his career to capturing the essence of popular culture, particularly in the realms of hip hop, punk rock, graffiti, and pop art. Born on November 20, 1961, Powell's remarkable work has been featured in an impressive array of publications, including The New York Times, the New York Post, the Daily News, The Village Voice, TIME, Newsweek, VIBE, The Source, and Rolling Stone, among others.
Throughout his illustrious career, Powell's photographs showcased candid portraits of influential artists, including the likes of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, and Madonna, as well as numerous other prominent figures in popular culture and everyday people. His remarkable body of work has been compiled in several notable books, such as The Rap Photography of Ricky Powell! (1998),The Rickford Files: Classic New York Photographs (2000),Frozade Moments: Classic Street Photography of Ricky Powell (2004),and Public Access: Ricky Powell Photographs (2005),which have been exhibited both domestically and internationally.
In addition to his photographic endeavors, Powell had a unique connection with the American hip-hop group Beastie Boys. He would often tour with them, capturing their performances and occasionally making appearances in their music videos.
