Ajamu (born October 26, 1963 in Huddersfield, England) is a Black British fine art photographer known for his conceptual self-portraits, Black male figure studies and studio based constructed imagery.

Ajamu currently works in London. He studied at the Jan Van Eyck Academy, Maastricht. His work has been exhibited in various prestigious galleries, museums and alternative places all over the world including: Neuberger Museum of Art (New York); Tropen Museum (Amsterdam); Neue Gallery (Austria); SchirnKunstalle (Germany); Pinacoteca Do Estado (Sao Paulo); and Foto Institute (Rotterdam).

Works have been published in a wide variety of publications, critical journals, campaign materials and reside in many private and public collections worldwide.

Artist Statement

My approach to fine art photography is to combine my passion for the medium with socially engaging and political issues. My goal is to use the camera as a tool to extend and challenge contemporary theoretical debates in photography on Identities, The Body, race, genders, sexualities and representation.

I am a traditionalist by nature when it comes to photography. I predominatly work with Black and White medium format film, shoot straight, crop within the frame and with virtually no re-touching afterwards.

Over the last few years, I have been re-visiting the work of mid 19th and early 20th century photographers, specifically those working with alternative processes such as Platinum/Palladium prints.

What the viewer sees is what I saw when I looked through the viewfinder. The ideas, people, communities and issues that I choose to engage with are just as important as the aesthetic quality to the work.

I like to prepare for a studio portrait session much as I would prepare for any other art or community engagement project. A portrait, like community work, is as much about process as it is about the end product.

My work involves ongoing engagement with socially engaged photographic practice, inclusion, cultural heritage and diversity. I see this as a unqiue approach within the arts and cultural sector.