South African, b. 1972; lives and works in Johannesburg und Cape Town, South Africa
Zanele Muholi describes herself as an "activist-photographer," and she attempts in her work to draw attention to the invisibility and intolerance often felt by black South African lesbians and transgender individuals. Although the South African constitution ensures equality to all citizens and allows same-sex marriages, these policies are rarely enforced by government officials. Human Rights Watch reported in 2011 that entrenched discrimination and rigid attitudes toward traditional male and female social roles have lead to frequent acts of physical and sexual violence against gay, lesbian, and transgender people. Muholi’s series of black-and-white photographs, "Faces and Phases," portrays black queer and trans people from different places and professions with great subtlety and intimacy. Adopting a serial portrait format, Muholi has created a "wall of fame" to honor those individuals that her society denigrates as a faceless group. "I embarked on a journey of visual activism to ensure that there is black lesbian and trans visibility, to showcase our existence and resistance in this democratic society, to present a positive imagery of black lesbians," Muholi says. "The portraits celebrate friends and acquaintances who hold different positions and play different roles within black queer communities—including an actress, athletes, soccer players, a scholar, cultural activists, dancers, filmmakers, writers, photographers, human rights and gender activists, mothers, lovers, grannies, friends, sisters, brothers, daughters, aunties, uncles, nieces, nephews, and sons."
'Skipper' Mogapi, District Six, Cape Town
Amogelang Senokwane, District Six, Cape Town
Dada
Dikeledi Sibanda, Yeoville, Johannesburg
Dorothy Magome, Mafikeng, North West
Flesh II
Flesh III
Gazi' T Zuma, Umlazi Township, Durban
ID Crisis
Isiko II
Jordyn Monroe, Toronto
Lerato Marumolwa, Embekweni, Paarl
Martin Machapa
Miss D'vine I
Miss D'vine II
Ms Le Sishi I, Glebelands, Durban, January 2010
Nosi 'Ginga' Marumo, Yeoville, Johannesburg
Phila Mbanjwa, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal
Sindi Shabalala, Parktown, Johannesburg
Sishipo Ndzuzo, Embekweni, Paarl
Siya Mcuta, Cape Town Station, Cape Town
Sizile Rongo-Nkosi, Glenwood, Durban
Stanley Mabena II, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, November 2006
Tumi Nkopane, KwaThema, Johannesburg
Zanele Muholi, Vredehoek, Cape Town