PORTRAIT by
Oren R. Cohen at Beacon Tintypes
Kendall Bessent is a photographer and director whose work captures the essence of Black identity, heritage, and storytelling. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, and based in Los Angeles, his work is influenced by his Southern roots, blending cultural narratives with intimate visuals that showcase the beauty and resilience of the Black experience.
His work has been featured in i-D, The Washington Post, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, BET, and Google, with collaborations including Nike, Teen Vogue, Netflix, The New York Times, and British Vogue. A 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 Art & Style honoree, Bessent has exhibited at Fotografiska New York and other cultural institutions.
Through his photography, Bessent aims to instill self-love and confidence, ensuring Black stories are told and honored with depth, beauty, and authenticity.
Kendall Bessent
Wieden+Kennedy
Warner Records
Teen Vogue
Netflix
Squarespace
Wonderland Magazine
HBO
Meta
PUMA
Apple
US Bank
2024-2025 | When You Look They Look Back | Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport
2020-2021 | Tracking Down Intimacy | Fotografiska x BAF New York, NY
2020 | “The Give Back” by Wish ATL x Sprite | The Gallery at Wish | Atlanta, Ga
2019 | “The High Rise Show” by Showerhaus Art Gallery | Atlanta, Ga
2019 | Culture of Sex Showcase | Georgia State University | Atlanta, Ga
2019 | GT AASU Black History Month Art Exhibit | Georgia Tech University | Atlanta, Ga
2022, Le Book Connections “Print Personal” Creative Award
2022, Forbes 30 Under 30 Art & Style
The New Black Artist Fund Grant
“The Give Back Grant” by Wish ATL x Sprite
2023 | Exlusis: In Conversation with Kendall Bessent | Georgia State University
2023 | The Who, What, When + Where | TedxWesleyanU
2021| Finding Light In the Midst of Darkness | Yale
2021 | In Conversation with Kendall Bessent | BMCC
Kendall Bessent (b. 1999), is an Atlanta, Georgia native, and multi-disciplinary artist based between
New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
He uses his work to communicate his perception of the world around him; rather that be past, present, or
future. His work explores the complexities of Blackness, in a way that they are shown in their purest forms. He highlights the beauty, strength, love, and happiness that are a part of the Black experience.
He intends for his work to instill self-love and confidence in people who look exactly like him. Bessent describes his work as
'unapologetically Black', and loves
to capture and create blatant expressions of Blackness. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution,The Washington Post, BET, and Google to name a few. His commercial work consists of collaborations with Wieden+Kennedy, Teen Vogue, Netflix, and The New York Times among others. Bessent is a 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 Art & Style select.