The Biography

Ruth E. Carter (born April 10, 1960) is an American costume designer for film and television, with over 40 films to her credit. During her 30-year-plus film career, Carter has been nominated four times for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, for her work on Spike Lee's biographical film Malcolm X (1992), Steven Spielberg's historical drama film Amistad (1997), and her most recent work on Ryan Coogler's Marvel superhero films Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). For her work on Black Panther, she won the award and became the first African-American to win an Academy Award in that category. She made further history by winning the same award for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which makes her the first Black woman to win multiple Oscars in any category. Carter also has a large exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Art displaying more than 60 of her original garments while also showcasing her immersive process, historical research, and the attention to detail that imbues every project she brings to life.