𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗼 ( 𝗯. 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗻) spent most of his childhood in Nigeria among the Igbo people. In 1972, his family moved to the Central African Republic, where,at the age of thirteen, Fosso established his own photography studio in Bangui . Like many commercial photographers, his aim was to portray people at their best, providing elaborate clothing and staged backdrops. Fosso began experimenting with self-portraiture after studio hours, initially creating pictures to send to his grandmother in Nigeria. Some of those photographs form the series 70s Lifestyle. Fosso is widely recognized as one of Africa’s most important contemporary artists. He continues to live and work in Bangui.
In collaboration with Yossi Milo Gallery
@sam.fosso@yossimilo
#samuelfosso
#yossimilogallery
#photographer
#africanphotographers
#contemporaryphotographer
Exhibition Highlight: “Samuel Fosso: Autoportrait” at Yossi Milo Gallery (September 3 - November 8, 2025)
This is a little late and I completely forgot to post this on MLK Day, but the timing is still quite right for this art post. Yossi Milo had an excellent, excellent show last Fall on the works of the Nigerian photographer Samuel Fosso (b. 1962). You could say that the exhibited images were divided into two categories: the fashionable and individually empowering art photographs of the “70s Lifestyle” series (1975 - 1978) and his later “African Spirits” (2008) series. This latter one I wanted to draw attention to because his self-portraits here involve Fosso’s transformation into legendary black icons of the 20th & 21st Centuries, including: Civil Rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.; jazz musician Miles Davis; independence leader and first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Patrice Lumumba (who was also murdered by the CIA); and even contemporary activist Angela Davis. I especially like to mention Fosso’s inclusion of a female figure in his series as there has often been gendered exclusionism even within social justice circles.
Though Yossi Milo’s show has long been over, this is too important to pass up on mentioning in light of tomorrow’s nationwide (we hope) strike in protest of ICE and the despotism of the Trump administration.
#samuelfosso #africanartists #socialjustice #socialactivism #africanart
Samuel Fosso, Self-Portrait as Angela Davis, from the series African Spirits, 2008, on view alongside the Cameroonian-Nigerian photographer’s better known series 1970s Lifestyle, also of self-portraits, in his solo exhibition at @yossimilo through November 8. Although the great Okwui Enwezor had written about it, I wasn’t aware of this series, but then again this is Fosso’s first NYC show in over two decades. @sam.fosso@samuelfosso
we’re proud to introduce samuel fosso as the fifth guest in our appreciation series.
a self portraitist whose work reshaped how we see identity, performance and style.
his portraits move between character and truth, transforming the studio into a stage of liberation.
his influence continues through a new generation of creators, from artists to designers like wales bonner, who carry his language of self authorship forward.
discover more of samuel’s work and legacy in our latest appreciation feature on zongoville.com (link in bio).
→ @sam.fosso
Step into the world of Samuel Fosso, the Cameroonian photographer dubbed ‘the man of a thousand faces,’ who turned self-portraiture into a powerful art form. From opening his own studio at just 13 to transforming into icons from across the world especially African Legends like Kwameh Nkrumah and glamorous personas inspired by 1970s fashion. Fosso’s journey is as captivating as his images.
Swipe through to discover his iconic series and bold perspectives.
Which famous faces from his portraits do you recognize?
How do Samuel Fosso’s self-portrait images resonate with you?
Join the conversation ⬇️
✍🏽: @olivesights
#eamgtv #africa #history #africanart #carousels #instagramcarousel
