Juliana Kasumu
http://julianakasumu.co.ukJuliana Kasumu is a British-Nigerian photographer based in London using conscious imagery to highlight the interconnectivity of women, culture and fashion. Her subject matter is chosen based on a quest for personal knowledge concerning issues related to Africa and its Diaspora. By interweaving cultural research and stunning portraitures, she is able to express critical ideas with the intent of educating her audience. Photographs by Juliana Kasumu have been exhibited for the use of raising awareness to less spoken narratives of Black women. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in visual communication from Birmingham City University, Kasumu created an on-going series exploring traditional hair statements within the Yoruba tribe in West Africa. Images from the ‘Irun Kiko’ series have received international acclaim, most recently being awarded the Renaissance Photography Prize 2015 for Best Single Image and making the shortlist for the D&AD Next Photographer Awards. Irun Kiko, based on Kasumu’s final year dissertation, served as the springboard for her career as a visual artist. In New Orleans the artist’s work was on exhibition at McKenna Museum of African-Art New Orleans in 2016. Kasumu is committed to researching and sharing ideas that promote West African culture through photography, publications and public programming.