Joanna

Joanna Choumali is an Ivorian-French artist and photographer widely celebrated for her evocative and distinctive work that explores identity, memory, and post-conflict psychological resilience, particularly within West African contexts. Her methodology often combines digital photography with intricate, manual embroidery to create deeply layered and personal narratives. **Early Life and Education** Joanna Choumali was born in 1973 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. She received her education in Morocco, where she studied graphic arts, earning a degree from the Casablanca School of Arts. Before dedicating herself fully to fine art photography, Choumali worked as a graphic designer and art director in advertising agencies in Abidjan. Her professional background in visual communication profoundly influenced her later artistic approach, emphasizing strong composition and narrative structure. **Career Progression and Major Achievements** Choumali’s career gained international traction in the late 2000s, driven by her socially and culturally resonant projects. Her early work documented the rapidly changing urban landscape of Abidjan, capturing fleeting moments of daily life. A significant turning point came with her series *Awa-Tindé* and *Adorn*, which explored societal beauty standards and traditional Ivorian culture. However, she achieved global recognition for her series *Ça va aller* (It will be alright), which focused on the psychological aftermath of the 2011 post-election crisis in Abidjan. In this work, Choumali photographed people she met on the streets of the city's affected neighborhoods, later embroidering their portraits to represent the fragile façade of their resilience and hidden trauma. In 2017, Choumali won the prestigious Pictet Prize (the global award for photography and sustainability) for her series *Ça va aller*. She was the first African photographer to win the award. This accolade cemented her status as a leading voice in contemporary African art. Her work has been exhibited extensively in major galleries and museums across the globe, including the Museum of Civilisations in Côte d’Ivoire, the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris, and the Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town. **Notable Works** *Ça va aller* (2014-2016): Her award-winning series combining digital photos with hand embroidery to explore grief and recovery in Abidjan. *Série Albahian* (2017): A project focused on the vulnerability and beauty of young Ivorian women, exploring the social pressure of appearance. *Au-delà de l'invisible* (Beyond the invisible): This series delves into the spirituality and unseen worlds of African belief systems. **Current Status** Joanna Choumali continues to live and work in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. She is actively involved in exhibitions and artistic collaborations internationally. Her most recent work continues to focus on themes of memory, womanhood, and the intricate connections between identity and place, maintaining her signature mixed-media approach. She remains one of the most important contemporary African photographers, regularly participating in global art fairs and discussions on African photographic practice.