Luke Austin

Raymond

Containing over 100 exquisitely produced original photographs, Luke Austin’s new photobook LÉWÀ is as much an oeuvre of extraordinary artistic distinction as it is of social and political commentary.

Yves

LÉWÀ — the Yoruba word for “beautiful” — is the culmination of Los Angeles photographer Luke Austin’s five-year photographic journey counterbalancing and navigating the realms of societal prejudices and norms.

Kenneth

Titus

Zelig

“The decision to make this book came from me wanting to open up conversation about what I had noticed when posting portraits of people of color next to portraits of white people. The difference in love and attention each received. I also knew I had a great collection of portraits of black men that were different to what I had always seen in the pages of male portraiture coffee table books. I feel that black men are usually photographed as objects with a focus on muscles and often sexualized with a focus on their private parts. My portraits are a softer more vulnerable capture of each model’s beauty. A beauty that I want racist white America to really see. I also think any imagery that distances black men from the common discussion and stereotype of them being rough, scary, hood, thug, etc. is incredibly important.” — Luke Austin

Yves

Yibo

Terrance

Taurean

Rodnique

Nick

Kelechi

Raymond

Harper Watters

Dom

Ashton Sanders

Sean

Brandon

Bryce

Courtney

Courtney