Ricky Powell's Early New York Photographs Reemerge at Whaam!

Natalie Chan
Sep 26
1 min read

Depictions of local landmarks, street art, and quotidian occurrences.

Ricky Powell's journey as a photographer commenced in the mid-1980s following a tumultuous split that rendered him unsettled in downtown New York. Utilizing a camera previously owned by his ex-girlfriend, Powell commenced photographing to occupy his leisure time. What begun as a method to cope with heartbreak rapidly evolved into a lifelong endeavor of chronicling the surrounding metropolis.

Exhibited at Whaam!, RICKY POWELL: NEW YORK PHOTOGRAPHS 1980–1990 showcases an intimate collection of Powell's initial oeuvre. Prior to his renowned photos of the Beastie Boys and hip-hop icons, Powell was a local youth traversing Washington Square Park, SoHo, and the Lower East Side, documenting friends, stores, graffiti, and quotidian sights. While he was operating a frozen lemonade business, his camera transformed leisurely days into enduring cultural documentation.

Powell's success lay in his capacity to navigate diverse subcultures—graffiti artists, punks, skaters, rappers, and artists—and to capture them as equals rather than as celebrities. Figures such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Futura 2000 are perceived as integral to his community rather than as remote symbols.

This show serves as an homage to Powell and a depiction of a bygone New York, characterized by its rawness, wit, and unrestrained creativity. The performance will continue until October 17.

WHAAM! 15 Elizabeth Street, Suite 113 New York, NY 10013