Ricky Powell’s Early New York Photographs Get the Spotlight at Whaam!

Capturing the City Before the SpotlightCurrently on view at Whaam!, RICKY POWELL: NEW YORK PHOTOGRAPHS 1980–1990 shines a light on Powell’s earliest images, many of which predate his now-iconic portraits of the Beastie Boys and hip-hop royalty. In the 1980s, New York was in the midst of seismic cultural shifts. Photographing People, Not CelebritiesOne of Powell’s greatest strengths was his ability to collapse the distance between subject and photographer. Powell’s photographs capture the grit, humor, and improvisational energy of a city that has always been defined by its contradictions. A Fitting TributeRICKY POWELL: NEW YORK PHOTOGRAPHS 1980–1990 runs through October 17, giving visitors a chance to step into Powell’s world and see New York through his eyes.