Meet jose cotto | // photography // design // art //

We had the good fortune of connecting with jose cotto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi jose, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
Focus on your slice of the pie… There’s a school of thought that suggests we should find our lane and stay in it — that knowing as much as one can about a particular field/topic/practice is the way. Go all in on architecture and forget about electives. Focus on one sport and you’ll make it further. Focus on photography and don’t be “distracted” with other mediums and processes… I say when they ask you to choose, do everything. Explore all that enlarges that fire within. Whether you do it for love, for a check, for ritual. Do it all. Remind them of your greatness. We hold the essence of our ancestors in our hands. We are a multitude of spirits; all vibrant and carrying so much wisdom. Expression lets us honor it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My creative practice includes a lot of mediums — photo, mark making, video, cooking, poetry, graphic design, architectural design + fabrication — and I often find myself bouncing around and between projects. The constant shifts in perspective, muscle memory, and sensory experiences allow me to zoom in and out to find connections between the work and the worlds around me.

Over the last 15 years, photography has been the outlet I come back to most often. You shoot and sit with tens of thousands of images a year over that span and it becomes second nature. At this point, it’s embodied spiritual practice. While shooting, I’m working to tune into the feeling of a moment or vision. Trying to feel it in my body… The warm island breeze for a product shoot; the pride in a young brotha who believes in their place on this planet; the emotion in a musician’s lyric. I’m drawing on lived experiences — 33 years of seeing and being — to make images with texture and depth. To produce portals for others to step into and feel, too.

There are three lessons photography has taught/reinforced in me that I often come back to: 1) worrying about the shot you think you missed may make you miss the shot meant for you, 2) context illuminates details; details are where the love lives, 3) adjust your settings to create the image you feel — go beyond what’s visible.

If there’s something I’d like folks to walk away from my work with, it’s a reminder that beauty always lives in the moment in front of us. I hope it’s a reminder of the power love contains. I hope it’s a reminder that a person, a place, a moment — can live forever and that we can always go back to where we’ve been. And lastly, I hope it encourages a curiosity with the worlds around us and that we become more connected to them and each other.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
New Orleans is a city of neighborhoods… if you’re in the city for a few days, you have to move around to get a feel for all of its textures. With that said, here’s a few days worth of action to get you rolling — let the city do what it do and guide you the rest of the way…

Day 1: Downtown/French Quarter. Let’s get some of the touristy stuff out the way… Start your morning with some coffee, beignets, and a river stroll. Check out some of the artists and shops in the Quarter and pick up a few gifts for self and others. Walk around and enjoy the architecture as you make your way to Congo Square in Armstrong Park. Arguably the birthplace of American culture as we know it — it’s a sacred site where the legacy of community and fellowship by enslaved and free people of culture still lingers in the ether. I’d plan ahead and reach out to my guy Malik at Know NOLA Tours for a proper introduction to the city — his walking tours are loaded with insight only a 7-8th generation New Orleanian can offer. For lunch, head over to Carmo in the CBD/Warehouse District. Light, refreshing, and flavorful bites — I always leave satisfied. Plus, you’re just a few blocks away from museums and galleries to enjoy while you walk off the lunch and sip on an afternoon boost from Mr. Wolf Espresso. Later in the evening, swing by Fritai, a Haitian spot by the homie Charly Pierre on Basin Street. During an early shoot I got a chance to taste most of the drink menu… Mane! They’re all good, but my go to is the Joumou Old Fashion with the squash puree — sheesh! Get the mac, some akra, some greens… It’s a slice of home for those of us with Caribbean roots. For the late night crew, hit up Bourbon if you want, swing through Frenchmen St. for some live music, or scope out the scene on St. Claude.

Day 2: Need to recover the next morning, no worries! Stop by Froot Orleans off Bayou Road in the 7th Ward for some fresh fruit and a smoothie to kickstart your day. Pop into Community Book Center afterwards for your return-flight read and swing through Domino Sound to pick up some records if vinyl speaks to your soul. For lunch I’d stop by 1000 Figs for some food to-go and find a spot in City Park or by the lakefront for a picnic vibe. To walk off the lunch, take a stroll along Bayou St. John, head up to the lakefront (where you can catch the local car scene on Sundays), or visit the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) and sculpture garden. Later in the day, swing over to Magazine Street Uptown where you’ll find a lot of shops and places to eat. Some of my go-to spots are Lilly’s (Vietnamese), Shawarma On the Go (in a gas station but the chicken platter always hits!), and Shaya (modern Israeli eats). If you’re looking to get into some local music, be sure to check out the homies at Tell Your Friends who curate a series called couches at Hotel Saint Vincent. It’s an intimate music experience that will put you on to some of the city’s most promising artists — hop on their text list to get updates!

Of course, New Orleans is a city that requires a lifetime to experience it all… We’re talking about a place that has been an epicenter of culture for millennia — the indigenous name Bulbancha translates to “a place of many tongues.” I’ve called it home for 10 years and still feel like I’m scratching the surface! Whatever you do, just show love, be respectful to the city and its people, and support as many local and Black owned businesses as you can. And say “hello” to folks when you walk by them, it’s weird if you don’t.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people I’d like to show love to — folks I grew up with, folks I’ve had dinner with once, folks I’ve never met in person… A lot of special beings have helped pave this road I’m on or fuel the journey. What instantly came to mind though, was that I had some amazing math teachers at key moments in my development. Mrs. Bilzerian & Mrs. Kaufman. They challenged me — helped me reflect on my strengths and take bigger strides. Gave me opportunities to lead and teach others… I would break down problems on the board and walk my friends through lessons. Looking back, those moments definitely gave me the space to find and nurture a voice. So shoutouts to all the teachers!! Formal and informal — in classrooms and in communities. You are the often unacknowledged and overworked builders of our world and deserve so much more.

Website: josecotto.com

Instagram: instagram.com/jccotto

Twitter: twitter.com/jccotto