Zanele Muholi, a photographer and self-described visual activist, explores Black queer identity in contemporary South Africa with striking depth and sensitivity. They first gained recognition with Faces and Phases, a powerful portrait series featuring hundreds of women, many from South Africa, challenging the country’s prevailing narrative that homosexuality is un-African. Born in Durban and based in Johannesburg, Muholi has exhibited their work internationally, with solo shows at prestigious institutions such as Tate Modern in London, Fotografiska in Stockholm, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. They represented South Africa at the 2013 Venice Biennale and participated in the international exhibition in 2019. In addition to documentary-style portraiture, Muholi has explored self-representation in Somnyama Ngonyama (Hail the Dark Lioness), a striking series of self-portraits that confront issues of racism, sexuality, and the politics of the Black body. Through their work, Muholi continues to challenge societal norms, amplify marginalized voices, and reshape the visual landscape of queer and Black identity.