Meet Tarik Carroll

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tarik Carroll.

Hi Tarik, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Back in 2009, I started off as a fashion / music photographer in New York City as a curious 21 year old trying to find his place in the world. Over the years of working behind the scenes in the fashion industry. It wasn’t until I started working in the fashion industry that I started to see through the “4th wall”. Once I started my own journey to acceptance, I realized the power of representation, inclusion & diversity. Upon learning the powers of retouching, I started to realize that perfection and beauty are purely subjective concepts.

Once I started to build friendships and working relationships with various models, I quickly learned that body image issues didn’t discriminate. Listening to male models with bodies that rival greek gods tell me that they too suffer from body image issues was equally eye-opening and jarring.

Five Years ago I decided to dig deeper within and truly shift the subject matter of my photography. I made the decision to create with intention by crafting imagery that not only showcased & celebrated a broader spectrum of body types & gender identities but also work that felt authentic, elevated and ultimately healing for myself and others who look like me.

Now as a multi-hyphenate creative, stepping into the world as a rapper and producer, these same themes inform my songwriting and visuals by taking up space and creating music with the intention of liberation, inclusion and self-love.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Limiting beliefs and self-doubt are things that I still struggle with, but with mediation and mindfulness, I’ve been able to ground myself and push through those self-imposed limitations, take up space and step into my light.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Brooklyn-based multi-hyphenate creative (Photographer, Fat Libration Activist, producer, rapper, and vocalist. As a musician, my influences span from Timbaland to Janet Jackson, Madonna, Bjork, FKA Twigs, Azealia Banks, Sophie to Lil Kim.

As a Photographer, Fat Liberation Activist, and visual artist I specialize in fashion, music, and commercial photography. What sets me apart is my fresh aesthetic and the fact that my work centers on highlighting marginalized body types in a way that feels elevated and inspiring.

My work has been featured in several major publications & news outlets, including GQ, TEEN VOGUE, PAPER, People Magazine, NBC, Strut by MIC, NYLON, Afropunk, NewNowNext, Brit + CO, The Human Rights Campaign, BuzzFeed, AZCentral, Creem, Super-Selected, Ellements, HUF, Vibe, Giant, The New York Times, etc…

My most proud moment was my artist residency this year “EveryBODY IS A GOOD BODY: The Re-Formation of Beauty Standards” at Heron School of Arts & Design. To be able to showcase my work on such a large scale was a huge moment and a bucket list item checked off.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love about L.A is the pace. Everyone seems so relaxed and chill. Being a N.Y Native everything is so fast-paced and living in L.A has been a very welcomed change of pace. I also love being able to have beach access and more access to nature which has really diversified my portfolio as a photographer.

Contact Info:

• Website: amirstayfly.com
• Instagram: @amirstayfly
• Twitter: @amir.stay.fly
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/tarik-carroll?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
• Other: tarikcarrollcreative.com

Image Credits
Photos by Ryan C Hamilton