Roy DeCarava
USAAmerican Photographer
Roy DeCarava was a renowned American photographer whose artistic legacy continues to captivate audiences even after his death in 2009. He was the first African American photographer to receive the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship. In 2006, DeCarava was awarded the National Medal of Arts by the National Endowment for the Arts, the highest honor for artists bestowed by the United States government.
Early Life and Career
Roy DeCarava was born in 1919 in New York City, the only child of Elfreda Ferguson. From a young age, he developed a passion for photography and actively experimented with capturing images. The frequent relocations of his family provided him with new subjects to explore. During that time, African Americans were typically only photographed for caricature or social purposes. DeCarava sought to break this tradition by photographing Harlem residents from an artistic perspective. His photographs were devoid of any sociological subtext, and he had little interest in documentary photography. His main goal was to express his creativity.
DeCarava exclusively used natural light and worked with a narrow-format camera, regardless of the shooting location, whether it was a sun-drenched beach or a dimly lit nightclub.
Recognition and Legacy
In 1950, DeCarava held his first solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Two years later, he became the first African American recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship. In the 1960s, he co-founded the African American Photographers Association. Throughout his life, DeCarava steered clear of commercial photography, preferring to focus on pure artistic expression. He later became a professor at Hunter College in New York.
In 2006, DeCarava received the National Medal of Arts, the highest honor for an artist from the American government.
Personal Life and Legacy
Roy DeCarava passed away on October 27, 2009. He is survived by his two sons from his first marriage, Leslie Roy (1943) and Vincent Rene (1947). His second wife, art historian and director of the DeCarava Archives, Sherry Turner DeCarava, and their three adult daughters - Susan, Wendy, and Laura - also survive him.
Interest in Roy DeCarava's work remains strong to this day, with his photographs continuing to attract experts and enthusiasts of fine art photography. "Photography is the best way for me to express my feelings and values," DeCarava once said during the opening of one of his exhibitions.
