New York Street Photographer Jamel Shabazz Named 2022 Recipient of Gordon Parks Foundation/Steidl Book Prize

Jamel Shabazz has been capturing his iconic street portraits in thematic albums since the late 1970s. He is the 2022 recipient of The Gordon Parks Foundation/Steidl Book Prize, which provides a publishing opportunity for artists whose work extends the legacy of Gordon Parks.

The Gordon Parks Foundation and the German publisher announced the award this morning. The book, “Jamel Shabazz: Albums,” will showcase selections from more than a dozen albums, as well as individual photographs taken across New York City, including Brooklyn, Queens, Harlem, and the West Village. The volume will also include photographs of people at Rikers Island, taken while Shabazz worked there in the 1980s. Many of the images in the book will be seen publicly for the first time.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Shabazz developed a passion for photography at an early age. His work is influenced by photographers such as Gordon Parks, James Van Der Zee, and Leonard Freed. Shabazz’s approach to street photography is informed by his desire to portray his subjects with honor and dignity.

“Jamel Shabazz: Albums” is edited by Michal Raz-Russo and will include essay contributions by Deborah Willis, Nelson George, and Leslie Wilson, among others. Shabazz expressed his gratitude for receiving the Gordon Parks Foundation/Stedil Book Prize and his commitment to upholding the principles that Gordon Parks stood for.

IMAGE: Top right, Portrait of Jamel Shabazz. | Photo by Mike McCoy

FIND MORE about Jamel Shabazz on his website and Instagram

FIND MORE “Jamel Shabazz: Eyes on the Street” is on view at The Bronx Museum of the Arts, April 6-Sept. 4, 2022

READ MORE Earlier this month, Jamel Shabazz answered 21 Questions posed by CurbedLast year, Tanisha C. Ford wrote about “Why Jamel Shabazz Is New York’s Most Vital Street Photographer” on Aperture. A new book “Jamel Shabazz: Albums,” is set to be published in fall 2022 as a result of The Gordon Parks Foundation/Steidl Book Prize. Another upcoming book, “A Time Before Crack,” uses photographs from the 1970s and 80s by Jamel Shabazz. “Back in the Days” (2001) is a collection of iconic hip hop portraits by Shabazz. It covers the years 1980 to 1989 before hip hop culture became a global phenomenon. Also forthcoming is “LaToya Ruby Frazier: Flint Is Family In Three Acts.” LaToya Ruby Frazier’s work is further explored in volumes including “LaToya Ruby Frazier: The Notion of Family,” “LaToya Ruby Frazier: And from the Coaltips a Tree Will Rise,” and “LaToya Ruby Frazier: The Last Cruze.” If you find value in Culture Type, consider supporting its ongoing production by making a contribution.