Joana Choumali
Ethiopia/USA | Painting, Drawing
Large-scale abstract paintings that blend architecture, cartography, and cultural history.
Exhibitions
Joana Choumali: Resilients
2014 - 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair, London, UK
A solo exhibition featuring her "Resilients" series, where Choumali explored the evolving identities of African women through portraiture, capturing their resilience and strength in the face of societal expectations.
Joana Choumali: Ça va aller
2019 - Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town, South Africa
A solo exhibition showcasing Choumali’s "Ça va aller" series, where she used embroidery on photographs to process the trauma and aftermath of the 2016 terrorist attack in Grand-Bassam, Ivory Coast. This series won her the prestigious Prix Pictet in 2019.
African Cosmologies: Photography, Time, and the Other
2020 - FotoFest Biennial, Houston, USA
Group exhibition where Choumali’s work was included, focusing on African and African diaspora photographers who address complex social, political, and cultural issues through their art.
LagosPhoto Festival
2017 - Lagos, Nigeria
Choumali participated in this prominent African photography festival, where her works addressed themes of identity, memory, and cultural heritage through her distinctive combination of photography and embroidery.
Joana Choumali: Adorn
2017 - Quai Branly Museum, Paris, France
A solo exhibition that focused on Choumali’s exploration of traditional and contemporary adornment practices among African women, using photography to examine how these practices reflect cultural identity and personal expression.
Addis Foto Fest
2016 - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Choumali’s work was featured in this biennial photography festival, where her series on African identity and cultural heritage garnered significant attention for their innovative use of mixed media.