Jenkins Johnson Gallery is thrilled to participate in this year's Paris Photo at the Grand Palais Ephémère. The gallery will present five art canon-breaking women photographers of the African Diaspora exploring social issues: Ming Smith, Lola Flash, Aïda Muluneh, Renee Cox, and Poulomi Basu.
Ming Smith, the first black female photographer acquired by MoMA, creates haunting, ethereal photographs whose images have become icons of 20th century life. Smith recently held a solo exhibition at MoMA and is currently exhibiting solo shows at CAM Houston and the Columbus Museum of Art respectively. In the fall, her photography will be included in a group show at the Guggenheim, curated by Ashley James. Smith is in museum collections including The Getty and Whitney.
Lola Flash’s practice is rooted in advocacy around sexual, racial, and cultural differences. A member of Act Up in the 1980s and 90s, they photographed the impact of AIDS in Cross Colour series - unique vintage photographs. Flash's works are in the collections of MoMA, The Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Leslie-Lohman Museum.
Aïda Muluneh, one of Africa’s leading photographers, created a photo series on food in war and conflict for the Nobel Peace Center. She illustrated ten different countries and conflicts where food is used as weapon. Her work is in collections including MoMA and the Smithsonian.
Renee Cox is one of the most controversial African-American artists working today using her own body, both nude and clothed to celebrate black womanhood and criticize a society she often views as racist and sexist.
Poulomi Basu is a neurodiverse artist known for her exploration of the interrelationship between systems of power and bodies through work that exists at the limits of art, technology and activism.
