“FOUR SHADES OF GREY”: The work of photographer Jamel Shabazz is featured in “Love is the Message,” on display through September 22 at the BSB Gallery in Trenton. An opening reception is scheduled for August 25 from 5 to 9 p.m.

The Trenton Downtown Association has announced the third exhibit at BSB Gallery with the launch of “Love is the Message,” featuring the work of photographer Jamel Shabazz. A special opening reception with the artist is planned for August 25 from 5 to 9 p.m. Shabazz is also scheduled to conduct an Artist Talk on Saturday, September 8 from 3 to 4 p.m. “Love is the Message” will be on display through September 22.

During the exhibit, three of Shabazz’s works will be auctioned off with all the proceeds donated to three local charities. The titled pieces to be auctioned are: Church Ladies, 25 x 42; Make Art Not War, 42 x 25; and Four Shades of Grey, 25 x 42. These three special edition signed works are valued at $4,000.

Shabazz is best known for his iconic photographs of New York City during the 1980s. A documentary, fashion, and street photographer, he has authored eight monographs and contributed to over three dozen other photography-related books. His photographs have been exhibited worldwide and his work is housed within the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum, the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Bronx Museum of the Arts. Shabazz is also a member of the African American photography collective, Kamoinge Inc., and his goal as an artist is to contribute to the preservation of world history and culture.

The BSB Gallery is located at 143 East State Street, Trenton. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This exhibit is presented in partnership with the Trenton Downtown Association and the African American Cultural Collaborative of Mercer County. For more information, visit www.bsbgallery.com.