Tyler Mitchell's Three Beauties -- Anok, Awar, Mona on Jekyll Island, Ga -- in Vogue Magazine

Top models Anok Yai, Awar Odhiang and Mona Tougaard surely had a deeply emotional experience, working with stylist Camilla Nickerson in this ancient roots fashion story for Vogue. TFS has posted it from Vogue Germany’s March 2025 issue as ‘Neue Poesie’.

AOC has been everywhere else to understand if it’s a Vogue Global focus — which this exquisite, artistic creation certainly should be — shot by Tyler Mitchell [IG] in Jekyll Island, Georgia. / Hair by Jawara; makeup by Fara Homidi

I know that AOC spins people in three different directions at the same time, but it can’t be avoided.

Key Points About Jekyll Island

1] the human and ecological history of Jekyll Island, which now dates back to 2500 BC and the indigenous Native American tribes, predominantly the Guale people who lived there; 2] the arrival of the Europeans and slavery on the island; 3] the rise on Jekyll Island of an aristocratic cafe society getaway culture in the 1920s that parallels the same rise in Europe; 4] Jekyll Island welcomed not only the Charleston Renaissance [SC American] artists, but Harlem Renaissance artists as well. I haven’t yet verified European artists sailing to Jekyll Island.

The Charleston and Harlem Renaissance artists were functioning and mixing with the Bloomsbury artists discussed in Sunday’s post about Kim Jones at Charleston Trust in the UK.

5] As most cafe society operated in Europe and in America, they welcomed artists from painters to musicians and treated them with respect. That does not mean there weren’t bad scenes and obnoxious, hateful, white people. But more progressive-minded people welcomed artists like Tyler Mitchell into their social circles on Jekyll Island. In fact, historians say that cafe society began in New York City and moved on to London and Paris.

Tyler Mitchell at Gagosian Gallery New York

6] Tyler Mitchell shoots on Jekyll Island regularly and large numbers of his Ghost series images were shot there, as well as on Cumberland Island.7] On Thursday, February 27, the Gagosian Gallery at 541 West 24th Street, New York City will host Mitchell’s first show in America, after the photographer joined the gallery last fall. Tyler Mitchell’s Ghost Images will be on view from February 27 — April 5, 2025.

8] There’s a wonderful, new MOMA studio stop-by with the artist. The Museum of Modern Art New York has acquired 5 of Tyler’s photographs and AOC is so happy for him. There’s a short version of the studio visit on Mitchell’s IG. I’ve located the entire 6 minute version and it will be installed on AOC shortly.

We’re working on an in-depth history of Jekyll Island, which will be posted separately and linked from here. And we’ll do a separate short post on Tyler’s Gagosian show and any other new info about this increasingly influential young photographer.

In summary, there’s a set of three articles all triggered by Tyler’s fantastic Vogue photoshoot and by tomorrow AOC will surely have two more ideas. This work is truly inspiring, Tyler. ~ Anne