an interview with cody cooper

Cody Cooper is a visual artist, fashion photographer, and designer based in Philadelphia PA. His photography reveals a compelling point of view on how he sees the world around him.

codycooper.photo

@codycooper_

what got you started in photography?

My relationship with photography began with both Hip Hop and high fashion photography. Some of my favorite images come from photographers like Jonathan Mannion, Nick Knight, and Helmut Newton. In the beginning I didn’t know how to get involved in photographing anything until I took a photojournalism course in college which forced me to purchase my first camera. My journey with the camera helped me recognize that some of my favorite styles of composing an image stems from high fashion photography and contemporary art. The first image I ever shot and published was a moody like portrait of DMX performing at the 2017 Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival (see attached image below). The portrait shows him taking a deep glance into the crowd after announcing a prayer to everyone who joined him that evening to see him perform. After I published the image online, he and his team posted my portrait on his Instagram profile - I was excited knowing at that moment I could not only just make a career in photography but that my work speaks volumes and I found my life's passion.

Tell us about your first solo show at wanderlife gallery!

My exhibition is a digital photography series titled, "06.01.20" representing the date of a nationwide racial justice movement, not seen since the American civil rights protests of the 1960’s. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, thousands of people join during a lethal pandemic for a day of protest in Asbury Park, NJ. In a country where demands on behalf of Black lives are unmet, our history is fragmented where we are treated as subhuman; even in the dark (of frustration, anger, and hopelessness) we remain lucid. At that time I felt it was necessary to document my community in mourning and share it for the world to see since George Floyd's murder was also broadcasted for the world to see. I'd like to thank the gallery director, Beth Dombkowski from Wanderlife Gallery for giving me the opportunity to show my powerful series in its entirety.

how do you balance your clothing brand and photography? Do they overlap?

Not only am I a visual artist but a fashion photographer and designer. My clothing brand is a luxury line titled, FREETOWN. FREETOWN is my liberation as an artist. A space for me to revolutionize my creative ideologies and narrate through design. Designing clothing and capturing images work hand in hand for me. I use my clothing line as a vessel for my photography to create the imagery that I choose to bring to life as a fashion photographer.