Boubacar Barry, a New York City photographer originally from Guinea, West Africa, grew up captivated by the towering buildings he saw only in movies. The tallest structure he encountered outside of NYC was an eleven-story abandoned building near the main university in Conakry.
Today, Boubacar feels blessed to live in what he considers the greatest city in the world, believing that anything is possible there. His passion for photography is so intense that he often dreams about the frames he wants to capture, finding immense satisfaction in bringing those visions to life. Ironically, his journey into photography didn’t begin with formal training in the arts; instead, he majored in Finance at Fordham University and earned a master’s degree from New York University.
His love for photography blossomed while working in the mailroom of a large real estate company in midtown Manhattan, where he was learning English as his fourth language. The offices were adorned with rotating displays of fine and modern art. During his late-night shifts, when the building was empty, Boubacar would study each piece, trying to understand the artist’s perspective. Although he admired some artworks, many remained a mystery to him.
Everything changed one Fourth of July weekend when all the art was removed to repaint the walls. The stark emptiness left Boubacar yearning for even the pieces he didn’t initially appreciate. This prompted him to enroll in Art History classes, leading him to visit several prominent museums, including MoMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Brooklyn Museum.
Boubacar began using a camera to document his vision, but it quickly became his means of spreading happiness, connecting with nature, and communicating with the world. His entire existence, whether through photography or his personal interactions, revolves around connecting people. He values relationship building, and through his photography, he has achieved this. He wants his work to connect people around the world with a message of hope, love, compassion, and solidarity.
Boubacar’s photography journey has introduced him to people from diverse backgrounds, from Moldova to India, Germany to South Korea, and Guinea to South Africa. To Boubacar, art is a universal language of love and passion that requires no translation.