Needless to say, things have been tough for the city of Houston in the last month. But amid the hardship and heartache, there has also been an awe-inspiring amount of goodwill and hard work put toward helping those affected by Hurricane Harvey (BIG shout-out to JJ Watt). That’s due in large part to the fact that there is still so much to celebrate about Houston; one of the country’s unsung heroes when it comes to fostering cultural creativity and diversity among its youth.
One Houston native who embodies this creative and insightful spirit is photographer Cary Fagan, who has already worked with a long line of prominent subjects, ranging from Kanye West to Solange Knowles. Growing up in Houston, Fagan says that he initially found it a tough place to live as a creative, as he felt cut off from the kind of thriving photographic community he might connect with in a different city. Over time though, he realized that being in Houston was actually an asset, as it allowed him to form his own unique style and fresh approach to the craft, devoid of outside influences. And although Texas has a reputation of being a sports-first state, Fagan and his artistic contemporaries are doing their part to make sure that those who are devoted to more creative pursuits will always have a place in Houston.
In this installment of our new original series Charged Up, presented by Reliant Energy, Fagan sits down with Complex News’ own Pierce Simpson to discuss his love of Houston and how the city inspires the images he captures. From the Second Cup coffee shop to the one-of-a-kind thrift store vibe of The Guild Shop—where Fagan does a bulk of the shopping for his shoots’ costumes and production design—the character of Houston is on full display... and clearly not going anywhere anytime soon.
For more from Cary Fagan, be sure to check out the newest installment of Charged Up in the video above, presented by Reliant Energy.
