Born in 1960 and raised in Brooklyn, Jamel Shabazz began photographing at the age of fifteen. Since the early 1980s, he has captured the energy of New York City’s urban life, producing iconic images of community, joy, and style.
Shabazz’s work serves as both a personal visual diary and a historical document, immortalizing the exuberant creative spirit of a pivotal era in New York’s music, fashion, and art scenes. His portraits — of individuals, pairs, and groups — celebrate the aesthetics and confidence of their time.
While portraying a broad social spectrum, Shabazz has made the streets and subway of New York the stage for many of his emblematic photographs. His City Metro series offers a vivid and eclectic portrait of the New York subway — a microcosm of the city itself. With a profound sense of community and respect for his subjects, Shabazz depicts the subway not merely as a means of transport but as a vital social space where people from all walks of life converge. His work delivers a sensitive commentary on urban life and the broader collective experience.
TASCHEN
Located on rue de Buci, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, TASCHEN Paris was the publishing house’s first boutique. Once a vibrant center of Parisian literary life, its opening paid tribute to the neighborhood’s long intellectual and editorial heritage.
Designed by Philippe Starck, the space has hosted some of TASCHEN’s most celebrated events, including book signings with Peter Lindbergh, Ellen von Unwerth, Sebastião Salgado, Peter Beard, Bettina Rheims, and Renzo Piano.