Ima is an editorial and fine-art photographer interested in exploring issues of social and cultural identity. Ima lives in Lagos, Nigeria, where he was born and raised, but also spends a lot of time in New York City, where he recently earned his Master’s in Photography at the School of Visual Arts (SVA). When he is not working he enjoys watching Wes Anderson movies, listening to music, and occasionally playing video games.
Ima was a recipient of the 2015 Lensculture Emerging Talents Award. His latest project, Nigerian Identity – a very personal exploration of his own identity – was featured on CNN and also exhibited at several art fairs and festivals including the 2015 Lagos Photo Festival, and Miami Pulse art fair.
In addition to this, he has also been exhibited at the Klompching gallery in New York City, the San Francisco Camerawork gallery, and the Detroit Center for Contemporary Photography.
Ima also periodically collaborates with Bloomberg, covering stories that showcase less reported aspects of Nigeria culture, such as the thriving Videogame and Film-making communities. Ima continues to work out of his home studio, and is currently photographing young football players he encounters on the streets of Lagos.
These contemporary portraits of Nigerians are deliberately photographed without the context of environment to challenge the viewers’ pre-conceived ideas about identity, class, and place in society.
