Some photographers chase the light. Lougè Delcy chases a feeling. The Brooklyn-born, Haitian-American creative, known to many as Dapper Lou, has built a career on a simple but profound philosophy: the perfect photo isn’t about technical perfection, but capturing an emotion. That instinct has taken him from styling gigs to photography and art, and the founding of Dapper Studios, a creative collective based in his native Brooklyn.
Currently in Japan and living nomadically, Delcy’s work has since carried him from Cuba to Zanzibar, shooting for clients like Christian Louboutin, Apple and Nars, and framing icons like Lauryn Hill and Jodie Turner-Smith. But his most personal project to date is The Black Voyage, a National Geographic documentary that follows his return to Kenya to reconnect with the Maasai community. It’s a powerful showcase of his signature blend: a marriage of photojournalism, travel and fine art, vibrant and bold, all rooted in a mission to elevate the representation of people of colour across the globe.
Delcy has just launched an eponymous creative space in Lisbon, alongside a travelling gallery that made its debut during this Miami Art Week. Whether he’s installing immersive tapestries or drawing inspiration from his mother’s griyo and his father’s fedora, Delcy approaches every frame with the soul of an islander and the eye of a global storyteller.
You grew up watching your parents build a life in Brooklyn. How does that Haitian heritage show up in the way you connect with people you photograph?
I grew up having very little means, but growing up in Brooklyn opened my eyes to so many different cultures. NYC is a place that is rich culturally so it exposed me to so many different people at a young age.
What impacted your creativity, when growing up in your neighbourhood?
One of my first from of expression as a child was dressing. I remember always begging my parents for clothing that I can wear to school and to this day clothes has been my great from of personal expression.
Favourite creative spaces in New York City?
Studio Museum in Harlem, MoCADA Museum and Richard Beavers Gallery, both in in Brooklyn.
Local hidden gem?
I don’t know if its considered hidden but the Brooklyn Botanical Garden feels underrated.
You’ve got a great distinctive style. Where do you like to shop in New York?
Honestly, lately I’ve been getting a lot of my pieces made. I work with an amazing tailor in New York who’s been bringing my ideas to life. But I still find myself checking in at Assembly New York and Fried Rice NYC. Those are two spots I keep coming back to.
Your favourite places in Lisbon and why you’re thinking of setting up there?
I actually pushed back my move to Lisbon because I’m enjoying being nomadic right now. That said, there’s a spot called Secret Garden in the LX Factory art area that I really love. It felt special the first time I went, calm, creative, and a bit tucked away. But I do think that Lisbon also makes sense for me. The cost of living is still relatively manageable, and it feels like a place where I can create freely and move at my own pace.
Tell the concept and plans for the travelling gallery?
The idea came to me when I was living in Brazil. I’m always on the move, documenting different places and communities, so it made sense to create something that could move with me. A gallery that comes and goes, and can be reimagined depending on where it is.
I also wanted it to feel like a collective, working with local artists in each place and building something that’s rooted in community, not just presentation. But a big part of it is ownership. There aren’t many Black owned galleries, and I wanted to have agency over how our stories are told and how we show up in the world.
It’s also about legacy. Galleries can choose to stop representing you, and then you’re left questioning where your work lives. By creating my own gallery, I’m building a space that fully supports my ideas, my values, and the long term vision of my work.
Your first trip to Kenya changed everything for you. What was it about that experience that shifted how you see your work?
That trip really exposed to me that the visuals and information I was showed about Africa wasn’t the full story. It opened my eyes to a different side of the continent, I got to see a story that was fuelled by a western lens or an agenda. I got to see the joy of the people, their pride, rich culture and heritage. It showed me a different perspective.
Most inspiring city for art you’ve visited recently and why?
Mexico City. I’m really in love with that city. I was there recently for Zona Maco and everything just felt alive, from the galleries to the streets. It didn’t feel overly commercialised, which I appreciated. It almost felt like a best kept secret. And I still feel like I’ve only scratched the surface, which is why I know I’ll keep going back.
Favourite museum or gallery in the world?
Mariane Ibrahim Gallery, in Chicago, Illinois.
You’ve said the perfect photo is about “finding the feeling.” When travelling, how do you know when a moment is worth capturing?
You just know, it becomes so natural that you don’t have to question it.
Where do you want to return to photograph again and again?
That’s a hard question. Part of me wants to say Bahia, Brazil, for the history, the music, the feeling. Another part of me thinks about Zanzibar.
But I’d say Bahia, if I had to choose just one. I was there during a transitional moment in my career, moving from commercial work into fine art, and it felt like the cultural reset I needed at the time. So I’m curious to go back, not just to see how the city has changed, but to see how I’ve changed, and how that shifts the way I see and photograph it.
You’ve shot everything from luxury hotels, Italian islands to Maasai villages. Where’s one place you haven’t been yet that you’re desperate to take your camera?
I really want to visit to Solomon Islands, it’s been on my mind for years. I saw the Black people with natural blond hair and that sparked my curiosity.
You’re known for your signature hat. When you’re packing for a shoot somewhere, what are the few things you never leave behind?
For sure the hat and comfortable shoes but when it comes to clothing I look to the local way of dressing and put my own their or spin to the local culture.
Where do you go for pure escapism?
In nature. That’s where I feel the most at peace. It gives me space to reflect, on God, on life, on what I’m grateful for. Everything slows down, and I’m reminded how much we overlook in everyday life. Even something as simple as breathing feels like a blessing.
And where do you go for a creative reset?
The beach. The water has a way of washing away any stress or anxiety.
Spa, health or wellness routine you swear by?
Honestly, I keep it pretty simple, drinking a lot of water, walking, and making sure I get enough rest. With how much I move around, those basics keep me grounded. Walking helps me clear my head and reset, and rest is something I think people really underestimate. It’s where everything recalibrates. And when I want to slow down a bit more, I love a salt bath. It’s a simple way for me to fully relax and reset my body.
Favourite hotel in the world?
So far, its Jnane Tamsna in Morocco.
What’s always your carry-on?
A laptop, camera, and a snack
Travel splurge you’ll never regret?
Always, a new hat.
Dream destination, not yet fulfilled?
Somewhere in Iceland
