– Advertisement –
For years, Pirelli’s annual calendar, also known as The Cal, has made waves for its exclusivity, glamor and star-studded lineup—both in front of and behind the camera.
To celebrate The Cal’s 50th anniversary, visual artist Prince Gyasi has been selected to photograph and capture the 2024 edition, which features talent such as Naomi Campbell, Teyana Taylor, Angela Bassett, award-winning author and the youngest inaugural poet in US history, Amanda Gorman. Afrobeats superstar Tiwa Savage among others.
But the highlight of this year’s Pirelli calendar was the fact that it was shot by a black photographer for the first time since its launch in 1964.
28-year-old Ghanaian artist Prince Gyasi was in Los Angeles when he first received a call from the Italian tire company asking him to fly to New York for a “vibe check”.
Check out Vibe, get to work. The fact that he is the first black artist and the first African to draw the calendar means a lot to him. “It’s about opening the door, opening the gate,” he said at a launch event in London on Wednesday.
Gyasi, who hails from Ghana, brings a distinct visual voice to his work: vibrant colors provide viewers with a glimpse of his otherworldly imagination, where the refreshing renewal of black themes is a central theme.
Gyasi credits his love of photography, in part, to the adults in his life who supported his creative exploration from early childhood.
His mother, a respected fashion designer from Ghana, and a local photographer who ran a photo booth in the market, apprenticed Gyasi as a child.
It is also worth noting that Prince Gyasi is the grandson of Otumfuor Osei Tutu!! who also appeared as the first black king to appear in the Pirelli Calendar.
The first Pirelli Calendar was published in 1964. Since then, it has become known for its high artistic aesthetic and features some of the world’s biggest stars.