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Written & Photographed by Kenn Sava.
Over its 8 3/4 years of existence, the name Kris Graves has appeared in the pages of NighthawkNYC.com as much, and probably more often, than any other Photographer. Why? No one else is doing what he is doing.
On the one hand, he co-founded and runs one of the foremost Artist-owned publishing companies there is: Kris Graves Projects. Since its founding, KGP has given a voice to a remarkable list of Artists, releasing first-class publications at affordable prices, which lead to their books routinely selling out. More recently, he founded the Monolith imprint, “dedicated to showcasing work from artists of color across mediums that address issues of race, identity, equity, gender, sexuality, and class.” Exceedingly open to new talent, many of the Artists he’s published received their first opportunity to have a PhotoBook of their work published. Some are “names” now; a testament to his taste.
As if this isn’t enough, Kris Graves, himself, has created an important body of Photography that looks at our time, and the past, with a unique vision, one that foregrounds what it is to be Black in America today, while living with the past. The culmination of his work to this point is his 2023 book, Privileged Mediocrity (published by Monolith with Hatje Cantz), one of my two NoteWorthy PhotoBooks of 2023. He published the other, Jon Henry’s Stranger Fruit.
Since I don’t believe “best” exists in the Arts, I started publishing annual Noteworthy PhotoBook lists (and NoteWorthy Art Book lists) of the books I most highly recommend in 2018. Since that time, one of Kris Graves’s self-authored books, or one of the books he’s published has been one of my NoteWorthy PhotoBooks of the Year in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023! (I didn’t do a list in 2022.)
Verso.
Let’s break it down…
In 2018, Kris Graves Project’s 10-volume set, LOST, was one of my NoteWorthy PhotoBooks of 2018. The set includes Mr. Graves’s book Long Island City.
In 1019, KGP’s TWENTY-volume LOST II was one of my NoteWorthy PhotoBooks of 2019. I wrote about the making of the set, which I called “monumental” at the time, here. It remains my personal favorite of the 4 LOST sets. LOST II includes The Bronx by Kris Graves.
In 2020, Kris Graves Projects was my NoteWorthy PhotoBook Publisher of the Year for somehow managing to publish EIGHTEEN books during the height of the pandemic when working with ANYone else was extremely challenging to say the least. In addition, Mr. Graves took extensive trips documenting the Black Lives Matter Protests throughout the South, creating a body of work that would become the classic Privileged Mediocrity in 2023, at considerable personal risk. 2020 also saw him introduce the Monolith imprint.
2021 saw Electronic Landscape by Isaac Diggs & Edward Hillel, published by KGP, make the list under the “Excellent & Under the Radar” category. The book has since gone on to achieve legendary status.
After not doing a list in 2022 for personal reasons, Mr. Graves returned as the author/Photographer of one of the only two NoteWorthy PhotoBooks, 2023, and the publisher of the other, as I’ve said.
That’s pretty remarkable. And especially Worthy of Note, no?
And the winner is…Kris Graves at his KGP booth at AIPAD: The Photography Show, April 26, 2024.
Informing him that the only two books on my 2023 list were his, I told him I should just give him the trophy, he’s been on my list so many times. “If there is one, I want it,” he replied. So, I decided to make him a NighthawkNYC.com PhotoBook of the Year Trophy, shown in the first picture, which I have nicknamed “The Golden Oof,” in honor of my avatar, Oof the Owl (What’s the deal with me and Owls? “Sava” means Owl).
Kris Graves with team member & book designer, Caleb Cain Marcus.
On April 26th, I presented it to him at his booth at AIPAD: The Photography Show. Also present was his team member, the wonderfully talented book designer Caleb Cain Marcus, who designed both books on my 2023 list. In addition to being an Artist, himself, Mr. Marcus has designed a number of Kris Graves Projects recent books, including their newest release, the 10-volume LOST IV, among books for any number of others.
Holding down the fort at AIPAD: The Photography Show, 2024, with both of the 2023 NoteWorthy PhotoBooks. What other PhotoBook Award gives an actual trophy?
In a world of many fine Art & PhotoBook publishers, Kris Graves’s work consistently stands out. He has something of John Hammond’s gift for finding new talent and often pairs them with more established Artists in his LOST series to democratic effect that lets their work speak for itself in beautiful and affordable books- even in the face of raging inflation. While his books regularly sell out, a sure sign of public acceptance, I’ve been surprised his work and accomplishments haven’t been more widely recognized. Privileged Mediocrity and Jon Henry’s Stranger Fruit are classic cases in point. Look through a copy of either and you’ll see what I mean.
“Propose a toast
Let’s hear it for the spirits and the ghosts
Rejoices for the voices in my gut and in my dome
Are why I never drink alone
I think that’s noteworthy”*
*-Soundtrack for this piece is “Noteworthy” by Queens own Homeboy Sandman from Dusty. KGP is based in Long Island City, Queens.
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