Dreaming in Real Time

Tyler Mitchell (b. 1995, Atlanta, GA) is an artist, photographer and filmmaker based in Brooklyn. He received his B.F.A. in Film and Television from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. His work introduces new narratives about Black beauty and desire, embracing themes of the past and creating fictionalized moments of the imagined future. Mitchell’s work is characterized by a visual representation of Black life that emphasizes empowerment, play and self determination. He is often inspired by pastoral and domestic scenes from his upbringing in suburban Georgia.

In 2018, he made history as the first Black photographer to shoot a cover of American Vogue for Beyoncé’s appearance in the September issue. The following year, a portrait from this series was acquired by The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery for its permanent collection.


Mitchell has been a visiting artist and lecturer at a number of institutions including Yale University, Harvard University, NYU, Paris Photo, and The International Center of Photography.

Vogue: In conversation with Tyler, The Creator

Art in America: In conversation with Amy Sherald

, Self Published, 108 pages, Softcover, Nov 10

, Gagosian, London, Davies Street, Organized by Antwaun Sargent, Oct 6-Nov 12

, 26th Edition of the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, Toronto, ON, CONTACT Gallery, Metro Hall, Toronto Billboards, Curated by Mark Sealy, Apr 28-Jun 30

Sunlight, Shadow, and A Rainbow: Matt Eich and Tyler Mitchell

, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, Jul 3 – Nov 6

, Hessel Museum of Art at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, Curated by Nana Adusei-Poku, Jun 25-Oct 16

An Imaginative Arrangement of the Things Before Me

, The Gordon Parks Foundation, Pleasantville, NY, Sept 24-Jan 2, 2022

, Jack Shainman Gallery, 20th St, New York, Sept 9-Oct 30

, Jack Shainman Gallery, 24th St, New York, Sept 9-Oct 30

, Gagosian, London, Grosvenor Hill, Curated by Antwaun Sargent, Oct 7-Dec 18

, Jack Shainman Gallery, The School, Kinderhook, NY, Curated by Helen Molesworth, Jun 5-Oct 30

, The International Center of Photography, New York, NY, Jan 25-Mar 15 & Sept 1-Jan 4, 2021

, Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam, April 19-June 5

, Aperture Foundation, Oct 24-Jan 18, 2020, (

 in Arles, France as part of Recontres d'Arles)

, Aperture Foundation, New York, NY, Curated by Siobhán Bohnaker, Brendan Embser, Marvin Orellana, and Antwaun Sargent, Jun 28-Aug 24

, CONTACT Photography Festival, Toronto, ON, May 4

, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, Curated by Tyler Mitchell and Sophie Cavoulacos, Apr 11

 Detroit Institute of the Arts, Virtual, Feb 24

, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Aspen, CO, July 23

Aperture Conversations: Tyler Mitchell and Salamishah Tillet on Black Utopia

, With Thelma Golden, Vogue Forces of Fashion, New York, NY, Oct 10

Artist Walkthrough of Roy DeCarava’s exhibition 

, David Zwirner Gallery, New York, NY, Sept 14

 With Deborah Willis and Grace Wales Bonner, Foam Amsterdam, Apr 19

In Conversation with Sarah Elizabeth Lewis, Harvard University, Mar 7

Take the Shot: Photography in the Digital Age, With Deana Lawson, Ming Smith and Hank Willis Thomas, No Commission Art Basel Miami, Dec 6

, International Center of Photography Museum, With Ashleigh Kane, Nov 7

, Talk Art Podcast with Russell Tovey and Robert Diamant, Dec 3, 2020 

Dialogues: Tyler Mitchell and Antwaun Sargent

, David Zwirner Podcast with Lucas Zwirner, April 8, 2020

Tyler Mitchell, From Skateboarding to Photographing Beyoncé

, The Business of Fashion Podcast with Imran Amed, July 26, 2019