Contributors:

• PHOTOGRAPHY VIA GABRIEL MOSES

Gabriel Moses is becoming one of the defining artists of his generation.

Hailing from South London, at only 24, Moses has developed an instantly recognisable style which has quickly made him one of the most in-demand photographers in the UK. He got his big break at 18, when he shot a campaign for Nike and since then, he hasn’t stopped. He’s worked with the likes of Burberry, Supreme and Mercedes Benz, and in 2020, became the youngest photographer to have ever shot a cover for Dazed.

In 2023, he launched his debut solo show, Regina, at 180 Studios. A collection of photography and film, Moses described the exhibition as ‘a salute to the women in his life’. The result was a rich, complex and layered collection that instantly captured people’s attention.

Last week, Gabriel Moses headed down to FLANNELS X for the latest instalment of Inside Job, our series of URL and IRL events spotlighting rising industry voices at the intersection of fashion, culture, art and music. After the event, he sat down with us to talk everything from his influences, his proudest career moments, what he hopes will be his legacy and more… This is everything you need to know.

What does hip-hop mean to you?

Black expression.

Who are your biggest influences in the world of hip-hop and why? How have they inspired you?

Jay-Z is definitely one. I love his journey and elevation as someone who came into it young, he has consistently developed his style and evolved over the years without losing the essence of himself.

This year marks 50 years of hip hop…What do you think have been the most defining cultural moments in the genre?

I find it interesting the way in which it’s defined cultural moments within fashion. From the Superstar to the Jordan.

Our Inside Job panel talk was all around the idea of worldbuilding within music… what does this mean to you and how do you feel the visual identity of hip-hop has evolved?

It’s become more DIY which is good. That has created so many artists today, because we no longer need much to get started.

Your photographs are often inspired by ancestral memories… how do you use the past to inspire the present, and future of your work? How does history influence the way you create?

All those things define who I am as a human being. I’ve always wanted to learn about myself, what I see as beautiful and show that through my work. It’s important.

You described your exhibition Regina as ‘a salute to the women in your life’, how do you draw inspiration from your community?

From the influence of seeing my mum and sister, and the things they had an interest in at home to the responsibility of creating imagery that my nieces can see themselves in.

In an interview with THE FACE, you said ‘if kids can see themselves in my work, my job’s done’. How has this influenced your artwork? Is this in your mind whilst creating?

 It’s case by case, there are times when things are very intentional, but I am very aware of the responsibility I have being where I’m from and doing what I do. I can’t turn water into wine, but I create from an honest point of view so it’s for people to see that authenticity and if they can relate then that’s good.

You’re self-taught, how had this influenced your style of photography and how you go about creating film?

I work like a child. We all have imaginations, but I feel like we lose a lot of that with age. I still just put ideas down constantly and sit on it.

Your career took off when you were 18 years old, and you directed an ad for Nike. Since then, you’ve directed for the likes of adidas and Moncler. What’s your proudest career moment to date?

The first time I picked a camera because that was me deciding to start something and I thank myself for that decision all the time. I’ve always enjoyed every step of my journey and the feeling of making my first film is priceless.

What advice would you give to young creatives starting out today?

Trust in your ability to learn. Anyone who’s doing anything at a high level is human like you and they’ve learnt a skill from scratch.

What do you hope will be your legacy?

That’s for everyone else to decide. All I know is I try.