Radical Joy and Reimagination: Tyler Mitchell's 'I Can Make You Feel Good' at Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam
Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam is showcasing "I Can Make You Feel Good" by artist Tyler Mitchell, a powerful exploration of Black life, joy, and utopian visions. This body of work, featured in Foam Magazine’s "Test of Time" issue, reclaims narratives around Black bodies within lush, imaginative landscapes, offering a fresh perspective on historical and contemporary representation.
Mitchell's photography presents a striking contrast to dominant historical depictions, which often neglected themes of ease and playfulness in Black life. His early portraits, characterized by a sense of lightness and vibrant settings, depict Black subjects freely moving, resting, or playing in colorful environments, adorned in beautiful garments or comfortable attire. This vision, as noted by Mirelva Berghout, points towards more generative futures for Black representation.
Tyler Mitchell's Perspective: Redefining Representation in Photography
The series "I Can Make You Feel Good" envisions a reality marked by radical joy and togetherness, a stark counterpoint to ongoing racial injustice and systemic oppression. Mitchell developed this work during a period of global standstill and outrage, following the murder of George Floyd amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Through his camera, he crafted images that celebrate Black joy, community, and imagined futures.
Works like "Riverside Joy" delve into these themes, utilizing the backdrop of the American South. Drawing inspiration from his childhood in Georgia, Mitchell employs staged compositions to reinterpret the region's oppressive legacies. He transforms this historically contested site of racial trauma into a place of shelter, leisure, and belonging, using warm, golden light and soft-focus hues to create a dreamlike setting that hints at fruitful futures.
Mitchell’s visual language is deeply influenced by fashion photography and digital culture, reflecting a sense of togetherness and care. His subjects' poses and poise demonstrate a keen eye for graceful style, as seen in pieces like "Untitled (Two Girls Embrace)." This thoughtful fluidity allows Mitchell to seamlessly move between his independent art practice and commercial assignments.
Acknowledging photography's complex history, particularly its role in shaping and perpetuating racial injustice through dehumanizing stereotypes, Mitchell consciously imbues his work with care and agency. He delves into the very essence of Black life and being, creating nuanced representations that continue to resonate within the evolving canon of Black artistic expression. A portrait from his work was notably acquired by The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery for its permanent collection in 2019, a year after he made history as the first Black photographer to shoot an American Vogue cover.
This exploration of Tyler Mitchell's impactful work offers visitors a unique perspective on contemporary photography and its capacity for social commentary and artistic reimagination. The full text, from which this excerpt is taken, was published in Foam Magazine 67, Test of Time, in 2025.
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