CURATED CONVERSATIONS
Xavier Thompson: Exploring Identity, Culture & Legacy Through Photography
Xavier Tyler Thompson, a Georgia-based photographer, specializes in fashion and landscape photography. His artistic journey commenced with an early fascination for the creative process and a profound need for self-expression, culminating in his lifelong aspiration to become an artist. He is recognized as a visual storyteller. Xavier endeavors to evoke a deep sense of place, connection, emotion, and dialogue through his photographic work.
Q: How would you describe your work in three words?
A: Intimate, Elegant, and Introspective.
Q: What or who inspires your art the most?
A: My photographic style is deeply inspired by artists like Deana Lawson, especially in portraying Black identity, culture, and elegance. Like Lawson, I strive to create intimate, cinematic, and deeply personal images, capturing my subjects in a carefully composed yet organic way.
Fashion, culture, and everyday moments also play a significant role in my work, helping me elevate my subjects into something timeless and striking. Ultimately, my art is driven by personal narratives—I want my images to carry emotion, presence, and a sense of storytelling beyond aesthetics. I aim to create portraits that feel powerful, honest, and reflective of the beauty and complexity of the people I photograph.
Q: Why did you choose your specific medium?
A: My passion for photography comes from a deep love for storytelling, identity, and visual expression, I was drawn to photography as a way to preserve moments, document emotions, and create art that speaks beyond words, Seeing the work of photographers like Deana Lawson, Irving Penn, and Richard Avedon made me realize the power of portraiture in shaping narratives about identity, fashion, and culture. Their ability to capture depth and meaning in a single frame inspired me to develop my artistic voice.
Photography allows me to elevate everyday moments into something timeless and striking. It’s my way of exploring the world, celebrating individuality, and leaving behind a visual legacy that resonates with people. This journey has been about more than just taking pictures—it’s about telling stories that matter.
Demetrius Test Shoot, 2025
Q: How does your cultural background influence your work?
A: My culture is at the heart of my work—it shapes how I see, create, and connect with my subjects. I’m deeply influenced by the richness, resilience, and beauty of Black identity and history.
I strive to celebrate the nuances of my culture through portraiture, capturing my subjects' strength, elegance, and individuality in a way that feels both timeless and deeply personal. Fashion, hair, body language, and symbolism all play a role in my storytelling. I draw from traditions, aesthetics, and lived experiences that reflect my cultural background.
I see my work as a visual archive that honors the past, embraces the present, and helps define the future of representation. It’s more than just art—it’s a way of remembering, reclaiming, and redefining our stories on our terms.
Saia for Black Ivy, 2024
Q: What themes or stories do you aim to explore through your art?
A: Through my photography, I explore themes of identity, culture, intimacy, and self-expression, My work is deeply rooted in storytelling, capturing the nuances of Black identity, beauty, and resilience in a personal yet universal way.
I want my images to serve as a visual archive that honors history, embraces the present, and helps define the future of representation. I am drawn to themes of strength and vulnerability, often portraying my subjects in ways that highlight their individuality while revealing deeper emotions. Fashion, styling, and body language are essential in my work, helping me tell stories of elegance, power, and authenticity. Beyond aesthetics, I want my art to challenge stereotypes, spark conversations, and create space for underrepresented narratives. Whether through portraiture, conceptual storytelling, or cultural documentation, I aim to craft timeless, meaningful, and impactful images.
Q: What do you hope people take away from your work?
A: I hope people see my work and feel a sense of connection, pride, and recognition. Beyond portraits, my images are meant to tell stories of identity, culture, resilience, and beauty.
I want viewers to see my subjects' depth, elegance, and individuality and feel inspired by the authenticity and emotion captured in each frame. I hope my work challenges perceptions and expands how people see Black identity, fashion, and self-expression.
Representation is important to me, and I want my photography to serve as a visual archive that uplifts and preserves the richness of my culture. Ultimately, I want my images to evoke emotion, spark conversation, and leave a lasting impression—whether through a feeling of nostalgia, empowerment, or simply a deeper appreciation for the beauty in everyday moments.
If my work makes someone pause, reflect, or feel seen, I’ve accomplished something meaningful.
Ari with LV trainers, 2024
Q: How does your art connect to the broader Black experience?
A: My work is deeply connected to the broader Black experience because it serves as a visual archive of identity, resilience, and self-expression. Through portraiture, I celebrate the nuances of Black culture—our beauty, strength, vulnerability, and elegance. Every image I create is rooted in a larger narrative of representation, ensuring that our stories are told with depth, dignity, and authenticity. I explore themes that resonate across generations—heritage, style, resistance, and joy—drawing from historical influences while reimagining what Black identity looks like in contemporary spaces. Fashion, body language, and symbolism reflect cultural traditions while pushing forward conversations about modern Black aesthetics and self-definition. More than just capturing individuals, my photography is about reclaiming how we are seen. By centering Black subjects in a powerful and personal way, I aim to counter erasure, challenge stereotypes, and expand the visual language of Blackness in art and media. My work is a love letter to my culture, a celebration of its depth, and a reflection of the broader Black experience—past, present, and future.
All images belong to Xavier Thompson
