Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art

BFSDoArt June Art History Highlight!

Zanele Muholi, born in 1972, is a South African photographer and self-described “visual activist.” Their work documents and celebrates Black LGBTQIA+ lives, confronting erasure and violence through portraiture and self-portraiture that combine artistry with activism. Muholi’s images have transformed global conversations on representation, identity, and social justice. Growing up in apartheid-era Durban, Muholi was the youngest of eight children. They studied photography at the Market Photo Workshop in Johannesburg, founded by David Goldblatt, and completed an MFA in Documentary Media at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly known as Ryerson University) in 2009. Their mother, Bester, a domestic worker, remains a central figure in Muholi’s imagery and inspiration. Muholi’s Faces and Phases series—a growing archive of over 500 portraits—honors Black le***an, transgender, and non-binary individuals, asserting visibility within a context of ongoing violence. Their later self-portrait series Somnyama Ngonyama (Hail the Dark Lioness) reclaims Blackness and explores power, labor, and resilience, often referencing colonial imagery through high-contrast black-and-white compositions. Muholi has exhibited widely, including at Tate Modern (2020–21), Venice Biennale, and Documenta 13. Their works appear in major museum collections such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Guggenheim Museum. Their recognitions include the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2017) and numerous humanitarian and photography awards. Through photography, education, and mentorship, Muholi advances a “visual history” of resistance and existence for marginalized communities. Their practice bridges art and activism, asserting that self-representation is a political act of survival and dignity.

https://www.stevenson.info/artist/zanele-muholi/biography
https://www.agsa.sa.gov.au/education/resources-educators/international-art/zanele-muholi/
https://time.com/5917436/zanele-muholi/

As promised - More photos from the Spring 2026 Atlanta trip! ✨🍃🎨

Throwback to our Fall 2025 Fabricated event!! Students created wearable art and put on a runway show to display them. These are just a few of the wonderful pieces created - stay tuned for more!! 🤩📺✨

📣CALL FOR ART!!! Starting June 22, we are accepting submissions for our biennial alumni exhibition! Scan the QR code or follow the link below for more specifics ✨🤩 Alumni from Georgia Southern and Armstrong art programs are eligible. We can't wait to see what you have been working on!

https://tinyurl.com/BFSDoArt-Continuum

Check out some of our current MFA student work in the Center for Art and Theatre Galleries on the Statesboro campus this summer! The exhibition will be on view through June 18! Galleries are open to the public from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.