Isiah “ThoughtPoet” Veney is a photographer, organizer, and writer from the Chatham and Burnside area. While recently being named a black history maker by the Chicago Suntimes and since his highlighted works with Truestar Magazine showcasing Chicago's musical talent he has been on a mission to capture and express powerful opinions and perceptions through imagery and writing. His #HeartMelanin portrait series, in progress since 2013, is a collection of emotions; snapshots of the black Chicago renaissance.
ThoughtPoet came up in the Young Chicago Authors (YCA) and YouMedia spaces with artists like Chance the Rapper, Mick Jenkins, Noname, Saba, and Jorge Mikell, all under the mentorship of Brother Mike. His photos show melancholy, and—above all—his love for the black and brown people of Chicago and beyond.
ThoughtPoet has had work featured in spaces such as The Dojo, AMFM Gallery, Blockhouse Gallery, The Hideout, The Hoxton, Experimental Station, OSOM Gallery, MANA Contemporary, Bronzeville Winery, Dusable Museum, The Breathing Room, Build Coffee cafe, The Silver Room, Boxville, The Field Museum, Elephant Room Gallery, A Very Serious Gallery, Kusanya Cafe, and many more.
He has had the opportunity to work with individuals and institutions such as 3V Agency, The Silver Room, Bronzeville Winery, AMFM Gallery, Englewood Branded, DCase, Englewood Arts Collective, G Herbo, Lil Bibby, Ryan Henry of Black ink Chicago, Renzell of Studio SHAPES, Chance The Rapper, Lyrical of Lyrical Eyes Management, KRS-One, Raekwon from the Wu-Tang Clan, Dr Cornel West, Chicago Tribune, Essence Magazine, The Fader, Estelle, Dreezy, South Side Weekly, Chicago Reader, and many more.
He is also the founder and creative director of the creative agency Unsocial Aesthetics.
His main agenda he lives by is to "Screw the logical, continue to dream". ThoughtPoetsOpinion currently lives in West Englewood..
image by Jansen
Work for Purchase
Any work that is on site or social media is for purchase. Simply email thoughtpoet77@gmail.com with the photo and prices will be discussed.