Niccolò Cosme is a Filipino conceptual photographer and creative director whose work fuses visual storytelling with social advocacy. Known for his striking use of symbolism and digital manipulation, Cosme’s photography often draws from religious iconography to explore themes of identity, pain, and transformation—particularly within the contexts of HIV/AIDS awareness, LGBTQIA+ rights, and human dignity.
In 2007, Cosme founded Project Headshot Clinic, a pioneering initiative that merges profile photography with advocacy messaging. The project has partnered with global organizations including UNAIDS, Save the Children, and the Department of Health, using portraiture as a tool for public engagement and education. In 2011, he launched The Red Whistle, a campaign that mobilizes creative communities to raise awareness and fight stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS in the Philippines.
Cosme’s work has been exhibited internationally and recognized for its impact. His photograph The Brotherhood of Men won the 2011 Professional Photographers of America Asia-Pacific Image Competition, and in 2012, he received the Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors) award from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. He was also featured in Levi’s “Go Forth” campaign as a Filipino “Pioneer for Life.”
