About.
Esther Sweeney is a Kenyan lawyer and an advocate of the High Court of Kenya turned self-taught artist, portrait and documentary photographer whose work is focused on highlighting different aspects of social issues mostly around African Women and girls. Her work is deeply inspired by Black Women, life, texture, colours and culture. Esther takes great pride in capturing African Women in their element who she credits as her main inspiration. She is interested in the nexus between social issues in contemporary Africa and the role played by women in the society. Esther’s ultimate goal is to find a way to capture and highlight social issues especially affecting African women with regards to the advancement of Women and Women’s rights in Africa. She hopes to play a part in coming up with solutions to these issues and challenges by creating conversations around these topics with the work that she creates.
Esther is a recipient of British Council In Motion grant (2019), Adobe Artists Development Fund (2022) and Getty Images Show Us grant (2023). She has exhibited her work in Nairobi, Tokyo,Switzerland, 9th Annual Beijing Biennale representing Kenya,Photoville New York with Black Women Photographers and Venice Biennale (2022)with African Women Photograph and AKKA Project. Esther was listed in Trace Tv's Keep Walking : Africa's Top 30 list(2023) among other African artists who are boldly pushing culture forward across the continent and abroad.
Esther's select clients include: Apple, Nike, Getty Images,Global Citizen, ActionAid U.K.,Dove,The American National Footbal League (N.F.L),Roc Nation and Roc Nation Sports among others.
Esther's work has been featured in Harper's Bazaar U.S., Oprah Magazine, Vogue Italy,The Guardian,Travel Africa Mag, Women's Health Mag U.K.,The Mirror U.K., The Independent U.K and Buzz Feed News. Esther is a member of Women Photograph,Black Women Photographers and African Women in Photography database. Esther was selected to be part of Women Photograph mentorship program for the class of 2022 https://www.womenphotograph.com/mentorship-2022.
Esther is based in Nairobi, Kenya and is available for assignments.
Select press/features:
2.https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/jun/28/black-women-photographers-on-the-theme-of-home-in-pictures
3.https://phmuseum.com/news/10-black-female-photographers-to-watch-in-2021
6.https://www.mefeater.com/25-black-women-photographers-you-should-know-about/
7.https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/health/g27321887/project-show-us/
8.https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/health/g27244569/dove-project-show-us/