Malike Sidibe

Having lived in a country where we sometimes had to walk a couple of miles for water or go months without electricity to now living in the States where everything is so accessible, has taught me to use my experience as inspiration.

Mailike’s name is spelled almost exactly the same as the Malian photographer Malick Sidibé. The 22 year old photographer offers surrealistic, dreamlike takes on image-making. At his core, Malike is an artist. His work is a reflection of his passion. He is inspired by the people and places he has lived.

Malike was born in Man, Côte d’Ivoire and moved to Guinea when he was 3 years old. He fell in love with photography at the age of 12 when his father gave him his first camera. Speaking zero english, Malike moved to NYC from Africa in the summer of 2010 at the age of 13.

Starting out as a menswear designer, Malike studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology where he realized that he enjoyed taking pictures more than making clothes. In 2013, Malike joined a nonprofit after school program called NYC SALT where he discovered photography is his true passion.

Specializing in fashion and portrait photography as well as creative direction and set design, Malike is dedicated to creating timeless images. His clients include: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The New York Times Magazine, Bloomberg Businessweek, Nike, Footlocker, Runner’s World Magazine, Nikon, Instagram and more.

The Los Angeles Times