Zai is a visual storyteller working at the intersection of cinematography and photography, where images are not simply captured—they are felt, remembered, and lived. Rooted in a black-and-white practice, his work strips away distraction to reveal something more enduring: truth in its most human form.
Guided by a documentary instinct and a cinematic language, Zai builds with his subjects rather than simply photographing them, creating space for honesty to surface and stories to unfold with depth and intention. The result is imagery that feels lived-in and deeply human—resonating across editorial and commercial spaces while maintaining a distinct, timeless point of view.
For CultureCon’s VIP Presentation, Zai presents works from three series: Tip of the Iceberg and Black Boy Fly, both series shot in Los Angeles and Untied, shot in New York.
ZAi
Free, Unrestrained, Comfortable at ease
UNtied
Initially presented as a runway show at 99 Scott as part of Meta’s Instagram Drafts initiative, Kayra Theodore’s Untied explores her Haitian identity through the lens of self expression through hair, most notably the bow motif. Raised in Long Island, NY, Theodore recalls the comfort of the bows her mother would adorn her with before headed to her predominantly white school. Through hair sculpture that bend genres and defies gravity, Kayra doesn’t discard the discipline she was raised on — she transforms it, turning what once made her small into what makes her undeniably unique.
Pre Order Posters
Limited Edition Culture Con 26 print
Signed
Edition of 50
17×22 12pt Matte paper
Initially presented as a runway show at 99 Scott as part of Meta’s Instagram Drafts initiative, Kayra Theodore’s Untied explores her Haitian identity through the lens of self expression through hair, most notably the bow motif. Raised in Long Island, NY, Theodore recalls the comfort of the bows her mother would adorn her with before headed to her predominantly white school. Through hair sculpture that bend genres and defies gravity, Kayra doesn’t discard the discipline she was raised on — she transforms it, turning what once made her small into what makes her undeniably unique.
Limited Edition Culture Con 26 print
Signed
Edition of 50
17×22 12pt Matte paper
Initially presented as a runway show at 99 Scott as part of Meta’s Instagram Drafts initiative, Kayra Theodore’s Untied explores her Haitian identity through the lens of self expression through hair, most notably the bow motif. Raised in Long Island, NY, Theodore recalls the comfort of the bows her mother would adorn her with before headed to her predominantly white school. Through hair sculpture that bend genres and defies gravity, Kayra doesn’t discard the discipline she was raised on — she transforms it, turning what once made her small into what makes her undeniably unique.
Limited Edition Culture Con 26 print
Signed
Edition of 50
17×22 12pt Matte paper
Initially presented as a runway show at 99 Scott as part of Meta’s Instagram Drafts initiative, Kayra Theodore’s Untied explores her Haitian identity through the lens of self expression through hair, most notably the bow motif. Raised in Long Island, NY, Theodore recalls the comfort of the bows her mother would adorn her with before headed to her predominantly white school. Through hair sculpture that bend genres and defies gravity, Kayra doesn’t discard the discipline she was raised on — she transforms it, turning what once made her small into what makes her undeniably unique.
Limited Edition Culture Con 26 print
Signed
Edition of 50
17×22 12pt Matte paper
Initially presented as a runway show at 99 Scott as part of Meta’s Instagram Drafts initiative, Kayra Theodore’s Untied explores her Haitian identity through the lens of self expression through hair, most notably the bow motif. Raised in Long Island, NY, Theodore recalls the comfort of the bows her mother would adorn her with before headed to her predominantly white school. Through hair sculpture that bend genres and defies gravity, Kayra doesn’t discard the discipline she was raised on — she transforms it, turning what once made her small into what makes her undeniably unique.
Other works
As seen in the Leica Centennial book
Edition of 100
17×22 12pt Matte paper
Kamui was born at the intersection of anxiety and imagination. Inspired by Kayra Theodore’s sculptural artistry, Tobi’s masked ambiguity, and Eren Yeager’s brutal metamorphosis, this piece became a confrontation with uncertainty. The kind that comes with ambition—the quiet anxiety of not knowing where your career, or your becoming, is leading. The sculpture serves as both armor and thought made tangible—chaotic, intentional, consuming. A reflection of how anxiety expands in the mind, turning possibility into pressure.
But this image is less about fear than faith. A reminder that clarity is often a luxury of hindsight, and sometimes the only requirement for navigation is the willingness to keep moving through the fog.
The old heads are phasing out and its time for the next generation of artist, athletes, directors, and innovators to rise. Make room because the time for change and new blood is now! And we’re not asking…
Edition of 50
Signed and unframed
17×22 12pt Matte paper
Edition of 50
Signed and unframed
17×22 12pt Matte Paper
Fallen Angel sits within Black Boy Fly, a continuous meditation on grief and joy in the Black diaspora. The body becomes a site of quiet endurance—wings implied, never fully shown. Pain is carried inward, hidden from family and the world, while the spirit still looks upward. This image asks what it means to fall, and still believe in flight.
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All prints will be processed within two weeks after October 4th (conclusion of Culture Con 2026).
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All orders will be shipped in an air tight tube to prevent from any mishandling.
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Once you’ve received the image, please lay it on a flat surface. Within 30-60 minutes it will automatically lay flat. No need to press it down with books.
Frequently Asked Questions
“Where you currently stand is a reflection of your past thoughts ”