· The Black Women in Photography Conference will run from 21 to 23 August 2025 in Johannesburg, led by world-renowned photographer Zanele Muholi.
· The event will focus on collaboration, mentorship, safety and wellness, while building a long-term legacy for Black women in South African photography.
The Muholi Art Institute will host the Black Women in Photography Conference later this month, bringing together artists to transform South Africa’s creative industry.
The event will run from 21 to 23 August 2025 at The Market Square in Johannesburg. It is organised in partnership with The Market Photo Workshop and the Ruth Motau Photo Mentorship.
Photographer Zanele Muholi, who is known internationally for their work and is an alumna of The Market Photo Workshop, will lead the gathering. The focus will be on the experiences, voices and creativity of Black women photographers.
Lufuno Ramadwa, producer at the Muholi Art Institute, said the event is about visibility and sustainability. “This is about building sustainable creative futures rooted in care and integrity,” said Ramadwa.
The three-day programme will look at the work and stories of Black women photographers, many of whom remain overlooked and undervalued in the industry.
Guided by the principle of ”izandla ziyagezana”, meaning reciprocity, the conference will create a space for collaboration and growth. Focus areas include mentorship without exploitation, safety, security, trauma, wellness and protecting creative legacies.
Charmaine Carrol, an alumna of The Market Photo Workshop, said the initiative feels like a safe home for artists. “Being part of MAI’s vision feels like a homecoming. It’s a space to connect, protect our work, and grow as artists who carry our communities’ stories,” she said.
The Muholi Art Institute hopes the conference will have lasting impact. One of its long-term goals is to include women’s archives in school visual arts curricula, ensuring future generations see themselves represented in history.
Pictured above: Conference poster
Image source: Facebook
