Nationally Renowned Photojournalist Andre Smith Exhibits 50 Years of Hip-Hop Photography at the WCCCD Brown and Juanita C. Ford Gallery

DETROIT, Mich. – Feb. 12, 2025 – Renowned photographer and photojournalist Andre Smith’s exhibit, “Hip Hop Evolution: Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop Photography,” will be on view at the Brown and Juanita C. Ford Art Gallery at the WCCCD Curtis L. Ivery Downtown Campus, located at 1001 West Fort Street in Detroit. The exhibition opens with a February 19 reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and is on view through April 30, 2025. The reception and the exhibit are open to the public at no cost during gallery hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Smith aimed to capture hip hop’s evolution through a visual journey that captures the energy, resilience, and artistry that shaped a global musical phenomenon. The exhibit invites guests to walk through the genre’s history, starting with rare images of hip hop’s trailblazers such as DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, and Afrika Bambaataa, along with pioneers including Sylvia Robinson, founder of Sugar Hill Records, and Def Jam Records co-founder Russell Simmons, and stars from hip hop’s “Golden Age,” West Coast icons, and female powerhouses.

Andre Smith has been a photographer and photojournalist for 30 years. His photos have been featured in publications such as Black Enterprise and Ebony, and his work has been exhibited at national museums. Most recently, his work, “American Odyssey: A Photographic Journey into the Obama Presidency,” was shown at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. Smith currently teaches photography at WCCCD.           

The exhibit is presented in partnership with the WCCCD School of Continuing Education. For more information, visit www.wcccd.edu or email artgallery@wcccd.edu.  

About Wayne County Community College District

_{WCCCD, one of the largest urban-suburban community colleges in Michigan, is a multi-campus district with six campus locations and educational centers, including the Mary Ellen Stempfle University Center, the Heinz C. Prechter Educational and Performing Arts Center, the Michigan Institute for Public Safety Education (MIPSE), the Curtis L. Ivery Health and Wellness Education Center and the Outdoor Careers Training Center.  The District serves students across 32 cities, townships, and more than 500 square miles. WCCCD is committed to developing innovative programs, transforming the workforce, hosting community-based training sessions, and improving student facilities and services. www.wcccd.edu.}

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