“There has always been a narrow definition of beauty in the fashion industry,” says Lagos-based photographer Morgan Otagburuagu (b. 1997). “This inspired me to explore unconventional, in-your-face portraiture; the kind you wouldn’t see in a traditional beauty story.” Otagburuagu is passionate about standing up against colourism, amplifying the beauty of dark skin and honouring stories of trailblazing Black women. His pictures are also deeply personal. After losing both parents in 2021, Otagburuagu began to incorporate flowers as symbols of grief, mourning, rebirth and celebration. Shown here is Being Black and Colourful II, in which orange petals cascade down a subject’s face and neck. “This is one of my first personal works. At the time, I was renting cameras for the day to shoot projects that were close to my heart. It was included in my first exhibition, and, with the proceeds, I bought my own camera.”
morganotagburuagu.com | doylewham.com
Image credits:
1. Morgan Otagburuagu, Being Black and Colourful II (2020). Courtesy of the artist and Doyle Wham.
2. Morgan Otagburuagu. Black Warrior I (2022). Courtesy of the artist and Doyle Wham.
3. Morgan Otagburuagu, Corolla I (2020). Courtesy of the artist and Doyle Wham.
4. Morgan Otagburuagu, Black Bola (2023). Courtesy of the artist and Doyle Wham.
5. Morgan Otagburuagu, Blush (2023). Courtesy of the artist and Doyle Wham.
6. Morgan Otagburuagu. Black Warrior II (2022). Courtesy of the artist and Doyle Wham.
7. Morgan Otagburuagu, Corolla II (2020). Courtesy of the artist and Doyle Wham.
8. Morgan Otagburuagu, Beauty Story (2020). Courtesy of the artist and Doyle Wham.
9. Morgan Otagburuagu, In Bloom (2023). Courtesy of the artist and Doyle Wham.
