He’s preserving our joy in perpetuity!

Photography has always been more than a visual art—it’s an archive, a witness, a keeper of truth. It captures who we are and who we’ve been, ensuring that our stories aren’t erased or diluted. For photographer Anthony Artis, this power carries a special responsibility: to document and preserve Black joy in all its vibrant, unfiltered forms.

For more than 15 years, Artis has been everywhere the culture lives—Brooklyn block parties, Afropunk festivals, living rooms filled with love, community gatherings infused with spirit, and historically significant moments unfolding in real time. His work aligns with the long tradition of Black photographers like Gordon Parks and Jamel Shabazz, who used the camera not just as an artistic tool but as a cultural shield and amplifier (Smithsonian Magazine) (The New York Times).

“I feel that rejoicing is a way of resistance,” Artis says. “We are bombarded so much with Black trauma. I really want to put at the forefront our smiles.”

And he means it. His photos pulse with energy—Black families dancing, friends embracing, elders laughing, children discovering their place in the world. Each image pushes back against the narrow narratives often shown in mainstream media, where tragedy is amplified and everyday joy is overlooked (The Guardian). Artis’ work stands as a visual counter-story: a declaration that Black life is abundant, expressive, layered, sacred.

His mission is not just to show that we existed—but that we lived.

“If I had unlimited resources, I’d focus on helping Black visual storytellers archive their work and get it into museums,” he explains. “There are so many Black women photographers and documentarians whose work deserves to be preserved. We have to tell our stories from our perspectives.”

This desire for preservation sits at the heart of Because of You: Legacy in Focus, a project that feels less like a creative collaboration and more like a cultural time capsule. It’s a tangible reminder that saving our stories is an act of love—and survival. The project reflects a growing movement across the country where Black communities are building their own archives and reclaiming space in institutions that historically excluded them (NPR).

When asked about the Legacy in Focus LEGO set collab from Because Of Them We Can and Most Incredible Studio, Artis’ eyes lit up. For him, the concept isn’t just playful—it’s profound. It blends childhood imagination with artistic tradition, offering younger generations a way to see themselves as creators, historians, and storytellers.

“I think it’s fun. It brings us back to the child within us,” he says. “And even with photography, it’s about surrendering to that curiosity—affirming the way we see the world.”

Curiosity is where it all begins: the instinct to pick up a camera, to document a moment, to freeze joy before it slips away. Artis believes that nurturing that curiosity is part of building a lasting cultural legacy.

If he could impart one lesson to the next wave of creatives, it’s this:

“We need more of your voices. The way you see the world matters,” he says. “Pick up the camera, the pen, the paintbrush—whatever it is. Spend time with it. Affirm yourself within it.”

Because years from now—when children, scholars, and families revisit the work—Anthony Artis wants them to feel something simple and profound: love. Love for his people. Love for the culture. Love for the craft of storytelling that refuses to fade.

And ultimately, that’s what makes Artis’ work timeless: he’s capturing not just our joy, but the truth that joy itself is resistance, remembrance, and legacy.