ESAI VELASQUEZ
"MAKE SURE TO CHECK BEHIND HIS EARS"
My work examines the complexities of my identity as a person of Guatemalan Indigenous and Black American descent. Raised by my mother and grandparents, I was deeply connected to my Indigenous heritage through language, tradition, and community. I’ve been fortunate to have a mother who nurtured my relationship with both cultures, despite going against the wishes of my extended family. In contrast, my Black identity–shaped by an absent father–was something I learned to build independently, often through cultural symbols, hairstyles, and eventually through the community I formed.
ABOUT
Esai Velasquez is a New York-based photographer specializing in fine art portraiture that blends contemporary storytelling with introspection. While his recent work explores his familiar environments, his distinctive artistic vision has allowed him to navigate both the fine art and fashion photography worlds. His constructed family tableaus examine themes of familial relationships, while his fashion photography reflects the richness of his diverse cultural background and his commitment to honoring each of his subjects.
Early in his career, he was a featured panelist at Photoville, working under the International Center of Photography. His work has appeared in editorial spreads for Primadonna Magazine and Blush Magazine. He has collaborated closely with several modeling agencies and gained technical experience as a studio assistant, including work with the Penumbra Foundation and photographer Naima Green.
His client assisting experience includes projects with the New York Times, WSJ Magazine, Sony, Lomography, Fujifilm, Broncolor, and Profoto. His work has been exhibited at the Uno Port Art Film Festival based in Japan, Soho Photo Gallery, The Museum at FIT, The IW Gallery, and most recently the C+C Gallery, which featured his work titled “Apt 3H”.
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