Nico Kartel (b. 1997 in West Palm Beach, FL) is a Bahamian-American born visual artist based in New York, NY. Nico is known mainly for exploring the Black identity in both a surreal and dreamlike way. His work has been shown in several group exhibitions. His work has been featured in half a dozen articles that discuss his family lineage which ranges from the Caribbean Island Country of the Bahamas, all the way to America in the “Dirty South” of Florida. His goal is to challenge traditional norms and build worlds for him and his subjects to revel in. Kartel has done a large variety of commissioned work for Telfar clothing, Sony records, Off-White by Virgil Abloh, Fenty by Rihanna and Grey Goose Vodka & Spirits Company. He is currently working on a book of portraits celebrating Black identity through the lens of family, southern culture, queerness and sexuality in America.
CV
Lola Brooke: Dennis Daughter (Commercial) Arista Records — Creative Direction/Lead Photographer, August 2023
L'Enchanteur F/W ‘22 (Commercial) — Lead Photographer, Oct, 2021
Telfar (Commercial) — Creative Direction/Lead Photographer, Neu Neu Magazine, Sept. 2020
Maternal Enigma: Paper Magazine (Editorial) — Creative Direction/Lead Photographer, Dec. 2020
Grey Goose/GQ Magazine: Jeremy Pope (Commercial) — Lead Photographer, Nov. 2021
Self Magazine: Life After The Pandemic (Editorial) — Creative Direction/Lead Photographer, June. 2021
Giveon: When It’s All Said And Done... Take Time (Commercial) Sony Records — Lead Photographer, Feb. 2021
Nataal Media: Camaraderie (Editorial) — Creative Direction/Lead Photographer, Apr. 2021
Nataal Media: 10039 (Editorial) — Creative Direction/Lead Photographer, June, 2019
Ciara for Off-White by Virgil Abloh (Commercial) — Lead Photographer, Sept. 2019
Rihanna for FENTY Clothing (Commercial) — Lead Photographer, June, 2019
Exhibitions
PhotoSCHWEIZ Group Exhibit — Zurich, Switzerland 2021
“Black Futures” Group Exhibit, Equator Studios — New York, NY 2023
“Sacred Implications” Group Exhibit, Brooklyn Film Center — New York, NY 2024
“Indelible Imprints” Group Exhibit, Gallery 90220 — Los Angeles, CA 2024
Selected Public Talks/Panels/Events
Warner Music Group, Open Studio Creatives Panel — New York, NY 2023
Pandora & Hyundai Presents: The Black Arts Experience Creatives Panel — New York, NY 2024