I am British Ghanaian visual artist and actor who lives and works in London. My art practice is concerned with mental health and wellbeing, invisibility, the diaspora and the archive. I use both lens-based practices and performance with an aim to culminate a cathartic experience for both myself and the viewer. I adopt the technique of re-imagination to engage with communities of interest and the self as a central focus within the image.
I have worked within photographic & performance arts since 2009 with a range of works that have been published, performed and exhibited around the UK and internationally.
I have been nominated for Prix Pictet & Paul Huf Award in both 2016, 2018 & 2021 . My work exists in a number of collections including Autograph ABP, Centre national des arts plastiques, The Hyman Collection, Arts Council England, New Orleans Museum of Art, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Mead Art Museum, The Walther Collection and the National Portrait Gallery.
I have been commissioned by a number of organisations including the Mayor of London, Photoworks, Artichoke & Tate Exchange.
In my television/film and theatre work, I am drawn to challenging and compelling writing with an intrigue for unique voices. I have previously been an associate artist of black led theatre company Talawa and continue to perform both nationally & internationally. I was recently nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actress for Shifters 2025.
I was nominated for the South Bank Sky Arts Breakthrough Award 2018, awarded the Firecracker Photographic Grant 2020 and have recently been selected as part of Foam Talent 2021, Jerwood/Photoworks Award 2022, Photo London x Nikon Emerging Photographer Award 2021 and The Photographers Gallery New Talent Award 2021. I am currently a Nikon European Ambassador and was recently selected as an exhibiting artist for Taylor Wessing Photo Prize 2023.
For more information on my work, print sales, comissions or to just say hello, please get in touch.
Photo © Ejatu Shaw