black and white image of young man waving from behind a counter, flanked by potted plants and photographs on easels; many photographs of people hang on wall in background

%C2%A9 Samuel Fosso

Autoportrait, from the series "70's Lifestyle", 1975-1978 (printed 2019)

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The David Draper Dayton Fundexpand_more  2019.61.1

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“I have to admit, I didn’t know I was making artistic photographs. It was a discovery for me.” For years, the young Samuel Fosso—born in Cameroon to Nigerian parents, living in Bangui (Central African Republic)—had been making self-portraits in black-and-white to send to his family in Nigeria. He experimented with props, poses, and costumes in flamboyant 1970s fashion. Much later, in 1994, these private photos were shown for the first time at the African Photography Encounters in Bamako, Mali. Fosso won the First Prize, and realized he was an artist.

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Details
Title
Autoportrait, from the series "70's Lifestyle"
Artist Life
born 1962
Role
Photographer
Accession Number
2019.61.1
Curator Approved

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black and white image of young man waving from behind a counter, flanked by potted plants and photographs on easels; many photographs of people hang on wall in background

© Samuel Fosso

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