Collection: 'Dans Le Milieu' Collection

As an artist, I believe in using my craft to shed light on important social issues and bring attention to marginalized communities. After a lot of research with help of Human Rights Watch and an invitation from local activists I embarked on a journey to West Africa to document and showcase the stories of individuals who dare to love freely, despite the harsh consequences they may face.

In this portrait series, I aimed to capture the beauty, resilience, and pride of 43 amazing, brave, and proud individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ in a region where their love is not only stigmatized, but also punished by law. Through these portraits, I hope to give a voice to those who often go unseen and unheard, and bring visibility to their struggles and triumphs.

By sharing their stories and images, I aim to challenge societal norms and spark conversations about acceptance, tolerance, and equality. I believe that art has the power to educate, inspire, and bring about change, and I hope that this series will contribute to the larger movement for LGBTQ+ rights and dignity in West Africa and beyond.

This project was a labor of love, and I am grateful to each of the individuals who shared their time, stories, and faces with me. I hope that their bravery and strength will serve as an inspiration to others, and that this series will serve as a testament to the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit.

The 'Dans Le Milieu' series was the winner at the prestigious 'Zilveren Camera' Awards and the winner of the SO Awards. The series was exhibited in musea (Museum De Fundatie) , galleries and many international Art fairs like Art Basel and Art Miami. Portraits from this series have found their way into numerous private art collections.