Isa Brito came to New York City in 1984 from Brazil where she was born and raised, with only a Kodak Instamatic and 200 dollars. After landing a job loading boxes at the back of Tavern on The Green, she bought a canon SLR and started taking pictures. Encouraged by an older gentleman photographer, Brito quickly switched to black and white 35mm film to save money. She then taught myself how to develop film and print in her bathroom. She took a photo 1 class at ICP to get her foot in and begin assisting teachers. In the late 80s Brito free-lanced for a major Brazilian newspaper and covered events in New York and Eastern Europe.
The melting pot that is NYC proved to be the eye candy she was looking for and didnāt even know. She couldnāt get enough. Going out everyday, photographing everything, every encounter, and every love affair. Brito feels very connected to the hustlers, the children and the old people. She feels that she is them. Sometimes Brito would run out of film and still shoot with an empty camera. She remembers precise moments from over 30 years ago – the light, the stance and the poetry. Anyone can be whatever they want. New York is famous for being a blank slate for people. People come and stay, people lose and find themselves, people get old here. Life passes.
Taking pictures was never a means to an end and recognition was never a goal to achieve for Brito. She never thought about it, but only felt the urge and the delight to photograph. Brito treated every moment with care and collected them on her film and memory. Find Isa’s website here.
