The idea for Furmaan Ahmed’s latest Google Pixel’s Creator Labs project came to them when they came across two circus prop dolphins. “Myself and my collaborator Isabella decided to drive these out to our nearest viaduct in the middle of the night to photograph them by Ouse Valley Viaduct [in Sussex, England], which has historically used to carry water from rivers into cities,” they say. “There was something quite miserable about these dolphins in that field looking for their way back to water.” From there, Ahmed’s series, The Memory Palace II, unravelled as an exploration of what lies beneath when you erase history and cultures – the unspoken but glamorous resistance that remains. 

Last month, Creator Labs returned for its ninth season, including the work of photographers Campbell Addy, Myles Loftin, Kennedi Carter, Mayan Toledano, Gabriel Moses and more. The incubator, a partnership between Google and SN37, helps rising artists create new work about important cultural narratives and social causes. The past season was their biggest yet, featuring 31 global artists and touching on an array of topics – community, identity, connection, intimacy and more. For photographers like Andre Wagner, it‘s been a deeply personal journey. After over a decade of making images of his community, Wagner‘s series documented his journey of self-discovery. “In recent years, l‘ve been diving deeper into my own interior world and psychology,” he says. "Focusing the lens and gaze on myself.”

Ahead, nine Creator Labs photographers reflect on 2024 in pictures and share their predictions, hopes and fears for the year ahead. 

SHIKEITH

Shikeith is a 35-year-old visual artist from Philadelphia, PA. His work is rooted in exploring the psychological landscapes of Black men, often through themes of hauntology and spiritual traditions from the African diaspora.

“Things have been incredibly unpredictable lately, and unfortunately, I expect 2025 will continue to bring challenges for many people around the world. An overwhelming lack of empathy seems to have taken hold, leaving us feeling increasingly distant and disconnected from one another. 

“On a brighter note, I believe more people are beginning to recognise this disconnection. It’s well past time for us to reconnect with what truly matters. In the aftermath of so much collective grief that has gone unacknowledged, I hope we see a growing desire to nurture our relationships – with ourselves, our loved ones and the environment.”

CAMPBELL ADDY

Campbell Addy is a British-Ghanaian photographer, filmmaker and artist currently based in Melbourne, Australia. His approach to storytelling is both highly cinematic and personal. 

“My hopes for 2025 are that my solo show in Australia is a success and that I’m able to cultivate the essence of love and community throughout my work, practice and personal life. In regard to cultural and political hopes, I believe we are on the precipice of real change and revolution.

“I don’t allow fear to govern me.”

CRUZ VALDEZ

Cruz Valdez is a 32-year-old New York-based photographer who has an affinity for bringing fantasy to form. This Creator Labs season, she turned the camera on herself to better investigate her personal beauty signature: black eyeliner. 

“2024 was a hugely transformative year for me in body and spirit. I would love to continue the work I’ve been doing on myself and my practice and hope to see more peace and safety around the world in 2025. I just want the best for my loved ones and those most vulnerable.”

MAYAN TOLEDANO

Mayan Toledano is an artist and photographer documenting the dynamic communities in Mexico City’s LGBTQ+ art scene, photographing artists, designers and creatives in their bedrooms and personal spaces.

“In 2025, I hope and look forward to seeing more tenderness and care – between people, friends, lovers and strangers. I want to see a collective return toward faith, spirit and restored humanity. May our eyes be fixated on the right and just things. I hope for curiosity and wonder to grow infinitely and to replace any areas of preconceived notions. I’d like to be surprised and present, to rest a lot, to appreciate what I have and to love what’s in front of me for what it is. I want everybody to do their best and to practice holding patience for others as an opportunity for change... No fears for 2025, we abandoned them in 2024.”

FURMAAN AHMED

Furmaan Ahmed is a trans, second-generation Pakistani photographer from Scotland, recasting folk stories and mythologies by placing queer, trans, Black and Brown people at the centre. 

“Last year felt so quantum. Everything has been moving in all directions at once at the same time; the speed of AI becoming accessible to the public while also live streaming war and genocide amongst instant memes about assassins. Everything is feeling so unserious. Although this acceleration feels so futuristic, like we’ve passed post-post-post-culture, things actually seem very feudal. World-building and fantasy have been so prevalent in the past few years. Everyone has been running away from the reality of the state of the world. I feel overwhelmed with unreal worlds in a time when we have to really connect to each other on a human level.

“My work has slowly been moving away from creating untouchable, unthinkable fantasy and more into a place that feels more direct and more human. I’ve been spending more time watching theatre and contemporary dance and reading about queers that passed during the Aids crisis in New York. I think a lot of my past work was a charade of pain in a world that feels like it‘s falling apart. Maybe that‘s a cowardly way to create? Creator Labs has really helped me face a lot of personal and worldly conversations quite directly this year, and I’m looking forward to creating work that feels more honest and is deeply rooted in telling stories of liberation in 2025.”

TEXAS ISAIAH

Texas Isaiah (who has two first names) is a visual narrator born and raised in Brooklyn. He currently resides between Los Angeles and New York.

“Everything related to my practice and personal life is connected to the collective. I hope we can connect, further educate ourselves and support each other’s lives and livelihoods. I wish for us to become more caring, present and empathetic. I am hoping we can support the efforts of cultural workers in our communities. Violence against intentionally marginalised individuals, insufficient care and an increased tendency towards individualism and capitalism are a few among my growing concerns.”

KENNEDI CARTER

Kennedi Carter is an artist and photographer currently based in the American South. Her work highlights the aesthetics and sociopolitical aspects of Black life and the overlooked beauties of the Black experience – skin, texture, trauma, peace, love and community.

“My predictions for 2025 include a shift towards prioritising our individual creative visions and finding new ways to rely on one another as artists. I foresee a time of bizarre happenings, leading to many unexpected events. However, my hopes for 2025 centre around returning to community as we collectively discover new ways to support and love one another. Fingers crossed!

“My fears for 2025 are the same as my predictions: upheaval and the unpredictable.”

MYLES LOFTIN

Myles Loftin is an artist and storyteller based in Brooklyn. In his latest series, Loftin returned to the Dominican Republic for a conceptual fashion story that contemplates the water, its connection to human life and the mythical lore surrounding it. 

“I think for myself and others, I predict that I’ll see a lot more emotionally and politically driven work, considering the fact that 2024 was a pretty turbulent year for a lot of people. I hope to see more people using their voices and their art in protest of injustice. We’re in an extremely polarised state right now, which I think oftentimes is a recipe for an influx of radical art.

“My only fear for 2025 is the fear of complacency and stagnancy.”

ANDRE D. WAGNER

Andre D. Wagner is a contemporary photographer and artist hailing from Omaha, Nebraska. He explores and chronicles the poetic and lyrical nuances of daily life and the human condition, using the city – particularly his own neighbourhood and community – as his subjects. 

“2025 will be a beautiful year full of creativity and realisations. My practice will only deepen in all the ways. I’m feeling more inspired as each day goes by and have a childlike curiosity about myself, others, and the times we continue to find ourselves in. I believe I’ll explore new ways of expressing myself with different mediums. My politics are to lead with love, always. Culturally, Kendrick Lamar will most likely continue to be prophetic.

“I don’t speak fear into my orbit. Of course, I’ve had to deal with the realm of fear, but I’ve also learned to overcome it. It’s taught me that it’s a very low vibration and only makes me feel small. I’ve learned to just walk in my truth – truth has no fear because it’s too authentic, too pure, too light. Fear puts people on edge, authenticity enlightens.”