Arteh Odjidja is an award-winning photographer and educator specialising in portraiture and fine art photography. He has had the privilege of speaking and exhibiting his work throughout the UK and US. Arteh considers London his home but also draws inspiration from his West African heritage. London is where he completed his degree in graphic design at the University of the Arts. Growing up with a father working in the filmmaking industry, Arteh developed an early fascination with the creative process. He took to photography soon after he was gifted a camera by his mother at age 10, and as a professional photographer has been commissioned to create work for some of the world’s most recognised brands. He is also an Akademie ambassador for Leica Camera.

Arteh’s passion to make a positive impact with his work has led him to explore personal projects aiming to challenge our sense of privilege and equality in a transient, fast-paced, modern socio-economic world. His work has been exhibited extensively in the US and the UK, at the likes of the Tate Modern, The British Museum, London City Hall, and The Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago. Arteh also speaks at universities and colleges hoping to inspire young creatives.

His exhibition ‘Rise for Bayelsa’ highlights the campaign to stop oil spillages and other environmental degradation in the Nigerian delta area.

Image: © Arteh Odjidja 2018 Rise for Bayelsa project – King Fisher – Bayelsa, Nigeria 2400

UK Black Female Photographers – UKBFTOG – presents ‘Living the Dream‘. This group exhibition celebrates culture, creativity, and womanhood through the lens of Black female photographers. While continuing to strive for fairness and equality UKBFTOG members also recognise they are their “ancestors’ wildest dreams”. Originally exhibiting images of 51 photographers, this selection of Living the Dream displays various interpretations around the topic identity. The imagemakers acknowledge their perspective can challenge as well as deconstruct socially conditioned biases involving Blackness. With the display, the photographers seek to stimulate next generations and to pay tribute to inspirational women, and supportive men, from past and present.

Shown here is Nurturer by Hasna Tayyar, a British Jamaican/Turkish Cypriot digital and analogue photographer. Hasna’s work highlights her relationships and emotional connections with those around her through documenting her ongoing exploration of her identity and womanhood.