Nuestra Hermana’s WOC Photography Series: Zanele Muholi
In 1972, Zanele Muholi was born in Umlazi Durban. After completing an Advanced Photography Course at the Market Photo Workshop in Newton, she held her first exhibition at the Johannesburg Art Gallery in 2004. She most recently earned her Masters of Fine Arts degree in Documentary Media from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada in 2009.
She worked as a reporter and photographer for Behind The Mask an LGBTQI African magazine tackling queer community issues and visibility. In 2002, she began FEW (Forum For The Empowerment of Women), an organization providing a safe space for black queer women to discuss and organize.
Her photographic work is deeply rooted in both exposing the issues affecting the lives of African lesbians, African women and the black queer community. Her photographic art challenges the usual portrayal of black bodies. Her work has addressed and brought visibility to HIV/AIDS, assault and the violent crime of “curative rape” against black queers.
Her work is intimate, honest, raw and emotionally charged.
She has held 6 solo exhibitions and has been part of several exhibits. One of her most well known being her first solo exhibit titled ‘Visual Sexuality: Only Half The Picture’. She has received 6 awards and contributions including the Tollman Award for Visual Arts and the Casa Africa award for Best Female Photographer.
You can learn more about her and her work by checking her website HERE.
Check out the archives here
(Please do not remove this article/bio attached to this photoset. This series is written specifically to promote & educate about POC photographers/QPOC/POC issues.)
I’ve seen that bottom center one on tumblr before, so happy to see credit being given to an amazing photographer!
