Zanele Muholi’s photography is bold and unflinching, built around stark black-and-white portraiture that confronts the viewer with directness and intensity. Their work balances intimacy and confrontation, often using gaze and composition to demand presence while highlighting themes of identity and visibility. Critics have praised Muholi’s images as both graceful and monumental, noting their ability to transform portraiture into a form of resistance and reclamation. Even for viewers who may find the work challenging or difficult, the technical mastery and emotional conviction are undeniable, leaving images that linger long after they’re seen.
Zanele Muholi
Lerato Dumse, Syracuse, New York