Originally from Kenya, stories played a big impact in MaiWa's upbringing; they were a form of entertainment during and after dinner and a reliable method of communication in bringing people together and creating spaces where everyone was equal regardless of their age, wealth and health. Her work integrates photography and text, and explore themes of stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination.
Exhibitions
2023 The Photographer's Gallery New Talent 23 (Online)
2023 Noorderlicht international Photo Festival, REGENERATE.
2023 V&A Parasol Foundation Prize at Peckham 24 in Copeland Gallery.
2022 1854 British Journal of Photography, Decade of Change, Belfast Photo Festival, Northern Ireland.
2022 NOOR Images, Capturing Climate Change, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
2021 PhMuseum Still We Rise Online Exhibition.
2021 Many Voices, One Nation 2, Ffotogallery, Cardiff, Wales.
2019 Where On Earth, Cardiff, Wales.
2018 National Museum of Wales - Black History Month, Cardiff Wales.
2018 5th Biennial of Fine Art and Documentary Photography, Barcelona, Spain.
Awards/Commissions
2023 The Photographer's Gallery New Talent 23
2023 V&A Parasol Foundation Prize for Women in Photography Winner.
2022 1st Prize Winner of Decade of Change 1854 British Journal of Photography
2022 Longlisted for Aesthetica Art Prize
2021 Firecracker Grant Winner
2021 FORMAT Portfolio Review Bursary
2021 Shortlisted for the Leica x 1854 Commission, Witness of: Individuality.
2021 Fellow and Recipient of Days Ahead (Siku Za Mbele) Project
2018 Recipient of The Reginald Salisbury Fund Travel Award
Masterclass/Workshops
2022 Der Greif Artist Feature
2022 Light Talk with The Halide Project
2021 NOOR Images Masterclass, Capturing Climate Change, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
2019 Youth Heritage Leader: Co-curator at National Museum Wales, Cardiff, Wales.
2017 Photography Workshops - Welsh Refugee Council, Cardiff, Wales.
Membership
World Press Photo's African Photojournalism Database (APJD)
Education
2019 MA Documentary Photography (University of South Wales)
2017 BA Psychology with Criminology (University of Winchester)
Curator
2023 Source Magazine Graduate Selections
2023 Source Magazine Graduate Photography MA Selector
2022 Wales Venice 10 Fellow Artes Mundi and Arts Council Wales
2022 Nominator for Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Award
2022 BAN/YCBA Curatorial Forum, New Haven, USA
2022 Uganda Press Photo Award - The East African Photography Award Judge
2022 Curator's Talk at Caerbladon Gallery
2022 Curator's Talk at Swansea College of Art UWTSD
2021 Curator of More Than a Number Exhibition, Ffotogallery Wales.
2021 Curator of Where's My Space, Ffotogallery Wales.
2021 Portfolio Reviewer for Uganda Press Photo Awards