Ricky Powell (1961 - 2021, New York, USA) was a leading figure of the New York hip-hop scene, famous for capturing the essence of a new generation of rap through iconic portraits, such as those of Run DMC in Paris. Powell's lens also immortalized downtown Manhattan icons such as Basquiat, Warhol, Sofia Coppola, Madonna and Vin Diesel. Charismatic and electric, Powell was not only a photographer; he was an integral part of New York's eccentric cultural scene.

Ricky Powell (1961 - 2021, New York, USA) immortalized downtown Manhattan icons such as Basquiat, Warhol, Sofia Coppola, Madonna. He was not only a photographer; he was an integral part of New York's eccentric cultural scene.

Ricky was raised as an only child by a single mother, Ruth Powell, and had the courage and freedom to grow up as a teenager in Manhattan. This milieu brought him into close relationships with graffiti figures and became part of the flourishing New York rap scene, gaining the title of "official paparazzi" for the Beastie Boys. He joined them on tour in the 1980s, a period when rap and hip-hop culture had just exploded on a global scale.

Powell did not formally study photography, but was a self-made person who, having grown up in a polarized New York, was initially focused on Physical Education. His panache on the court and charismatic figure made him well known in the city at a young age, which led him to play on the Futura 2000 graffiti artist's softball team, where he would meet the Beastie Boys.

His panache on the court and charismatic figure made him well known in the city at a young age

As already mentioned, Powell was not simply a photographer of rap; he also captured the essence of New York in the 80s and 90s. He was immersed in various subcultures, including the punks, and his uneducated eye and charismatic personality allowed him to capture the essence of his subjects in a natural, unpretentious situation. Powell considered photography as a way to collect, to collect cool people, objects and peculiar passersby, which he achieved by simply hanging out and exploring the city.

Powell's works have been featured in both national and international solo and group exhibitions from the United States to Europe. Several articles have also been published in The New York Times, the New York Post, the Daily News, The Village Voice, TIME, Newsweek, VIBE, The Source, Rolling Stone, among others, as well as catalogs and retrospectives on the artist's photographs. Some of his most famous books are:

- The Rap Photography of Ricky Powell! (1998)

- Frozade Moments: Classic Street Photography of Ricky Powell (2004)

- Public Access: Ricky Powell Photographs 1985–2005 (2005)