Black Is Magazine

Black Is publishes the stories and the work of Black photographic artists from around the world, because one experience does not speak for all. We are dedicated to creating a platform to showcase Black photographers whose work speaks to the diversity of our communities and ourselves. The magazine acts as a place of discussion and an archival platform, keeping a database of all the Black photographers we interview/share the work of. We aim to include those of the African diaspora that are of Black culture, in Black culture, and support Black culture globally.  blackismag.com

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Black Is Magazine: A new photographic arts publication

Black Is publishes the stories and the work of Black photographic artists from around the world, because one experience does not speak for all. We are dedicated to creating a platform to showcase Black photographers whose work speaks to the diversity of our communities and ourselves. The magazine acts as a place of discussion and an archival platform, keeping a database of all the Black photographers we interview/share the work of.

We believe that it's important for there to be an existing, ongoing publication that caters to Black photographers and what they have to say/show when it comes to their work and other topics of discussion that relate to our relationship with photography as Black people. We aim to include those of the African diaspora that are of Black culture, in Black culture, and support Black culture globally. The online platform also acts as an educational resource for those who don't have access to information/education related to photography.

Visit our online magazine here: https://blackismag.com

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Margaret Njeri Ngigi (B.1996) is a passionate visual artist, photographer, and filmmaker. Born, raised, and currently living in Kenya, she is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Film Production and Directing at the United States International University of Africa. Margaret has been practicing photography for six years in which she has been nominated for awards such as photo London emerging photographer of the year. She has exhibited her work in international art fairs such as Photo Basel and worked with galleries such as AKKA project Dubai and Venice. Women have been, and continue to be the center of most of her projects such as Murky waters and Mke Mwema.

Her environment has always been a source of inspiration for her and by taking images of women, she makes an image of herself and tries to bring these issues affecting women to the limelight. This is very important for her as women all around her continue to be oppressed by the society she lives in, and yet these issues are not talked about. Another topic she holds dear is a mental illness which she addresses in her work, with projects such as wrapped up in my head . While as much as she enjoys creating photographs and films, what drives her is the need to start conversations on issues that affect women and society at large. She is very passionate about feminism and the need to have safe spaces where women are able to hold conversations and also relate with her work and not feel alone with whatever issues they go through.

Read our interview with Sherie on our site!

Interview: Margaret (Sherie) Ngigi – Black Is Magazine

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Mumbi Muturi is a photographer and multi-discipline creative living and working in Nairobi, Kenya. The trajectory behind becoming an established photographer, director and painter was all but orthodox yet led by Mumbi’s drive to master her craft and externalize her passion for telling stories through the lens or paint.

After self-teaching the fundamentals, Mumbi began considering a career in photography during a camping trip alongside fellow Kenyan photographers, an experience that taught her how to look at her work with a critical, detached eye. From then, she started experimenting with various subjects - the result is her Tarot Imagined series - and focusing on channeling the power of humanity through her images. By capturing and manipulating light to her liking, Mumbi is able to extract the essence of her subjects and highlight their soul through a refined use of contrast.

Her work interrogates the interaction between people and their surroundings, the juxtaposition of humanity and nature. Resilience and strength perspire through her images, whether still or moving. The stark use of color is a metaphor of deep emotion, the state of the human condition. Mumbi’s photography and water color paintings were selected to be on show at One-Off Gallery in Nairobi, Kenya.

Read our interview with Mumbi here:

Interview: Mumbi Muturi – Black Is Magazine

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Nate Palmer (b. 1994) is an American documentary & fine art photographer born and raised in Washington, DC. Through his practice in imagemaking, Nate examines the collective conception of masculinity in the United States. He currently lives and works between NYC and DC.

Read our interview with Nate here:

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Alexander Ikhide is a multidisciplinary visual artist working in photography, collage (analogue/digital), painting and drawing, exploring ideas of the body as well as a merging of photography and painting to produce mixed media works on paper. Through a method of gestural abstraction and mark making with paint, reminiscent of abstract expressionism. The tensions that arise between photography and painting as both distinct forms of representation in art become blurred and indistinguishable. By disrupting an expectant representation of the figurative in his work, and instead opting for a more investigative narrative into an interiority that is fundamentally human and of shared experience, tapping into the subconscious and conscious drives that are both visceral and intuitive in nature to explore new forms and approaches to image making.

Read our interview with Alexander here:

Interview: Alexander Ikhide – Black Is Magazine

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Our new round of interviews for the Fall season have officially released! This time, we interviewed Alexander Ikhide, Nate Langston Palmer, and Phillip Loken about their process and practice within photography. Check out the interviews on our site!