Photoville

Vikki Tobak

Vikki Tobak

VIKKI TOBAK is an author, journalist, and curator. She is the author of critically acclaimed books CONTACT HIGH: A VISUAL HISTORY OF HIP-HOP (Clarkson Potter/Random House), 2018); ICE COLD: A HIP-HOP JEWELRY HISTORY (Taschen 2022) and The Streets Win (Rizzoli 2023). Her work has appeared in Complex, Rolling Stone, The FADER, ESPN’s The Undefeated, Mass Appeal, Paper, Vibe, i-D, the Detroit News, The Library of Congress and more. Tobak is also the curator of the traveling Contact High exhibition at the Annenberg Space for Photography, The International Center of Photography, Manarat Al Saadiyat (MAS)in Abu Dhabi and MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture). Tobak and the exhibition were nominated for a Lucie Foundation Award for Curator / Exhibition of the Year. She is a former producer and columnist for CBS, CNN and Bloomberg News. Vikki got her start as a culture editor for Paper magazine before going on to work at Payday Records/Empire Management working with groups including Gang Starr, Jay-Z, Mos Def, Show and AG, Jeru and other hip-hop legends of the Golden Era. She has lectured widely about music photography and contemporary culture at American University, The Schomburg Center, The Kennedy Center, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit.

Archive Exhibitions Featuring Vikki Tobak

Contact High: Hip-Hop’s Iconic Photographs and Visual Culture

Brooklyn Bridge Park – Emily Warren Roebling Plaza
 archive : 2017

“Contact High” spotlights the photographers who have played critical roles in bringing hip-hop and music culture imagery onto the global stage.

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Archive Sessions and Events Featuring Vikki Tobak

Jun 32023

Opening Night at PHOTOVILLE!

Join us for an evening of music, community, and beautiful visual storytelling as we celebrate how photography captures and reflects our histories.

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Sep 142019

Walk This Way

Join Vikki Tobak, author of Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop, as she interviews April Walker, lifestyle entrepreneur, author, health/wellness advocate, and creator of one of the first urban fashion brands, WalkerWear.

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Apr 272019

Walking Tour with Vikki Tobak & Janette Beckman

Join curator Vikki Tobak and photographer Janette Beckman as they share their exhibitions Contact High and The Mash Up, and visit many of their other favorites around Photoville LA.

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Apr 262019

An Evening With Contact High

Join us for an evening celebrating the visual legacy and power of Hip-Hop.

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Sep 162017

Contact High: Hip-Hop’s Iconic Photographs and Visual Culture

Contact High will host a conversation with legendary photographers Janette Beckman, Barron Claiborne, Brian Cross and Ernie Paniccioli exploring the creative process and behind-the-scenes look at the making of the imagery that shaped hip-hop.

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