Keyezua

Photographer Lola Keyezua, better known as Keyezua, is known for striking portraits that respond to stereotypes about African beauty. In evocative depictions of the body, she presents singular visions of dignity and resilience in high-contrast colors. Her acclaimed series “Fortia” (2017) wrestles with her relationship with her father, whose diabetes resulted in the loss of use of his legs and his untimely death; it features women wearing highly sculptural masks made by Angolan men with physical disabilities. A visual storyteller, Keyezua examines issues pertinent to the African diaspora, such as female genital mutilation, human trafficking, and the damages incurred by the adoption of Western beauty ideals. Keyezua lives and works in Luanda, Angola, where she also creates sculptures, videos, paintings, and poetry.