It's True: Osato Erebor's Debut Photography Exhibition Was One For The Books

At Africa Fashion Week Toronto, award winning photographer Osato Erebor staged her first photography exhibition, Connection. While the photographers afro-centric aesthetic is readily apparent, this series of fashion portraiture revealed another nuance of her work, showing she can seamlessly blend the past and present and is fluent in a visual language sometimes missing from today’s Instagram- focused cultural landscape.

Working with pieces from Toronto based designers like Kaela Kay, Kyle Gervacy, Precious Threads by Abiola and ÖFUURË, we relished her new focus, centred on the idea of bonds and relationships within our community and executed flawlessly.

The backdrops are dark and give the photos a contemporary feel, the props are relatively natural – featuring cane chairs and wheat sheafs that are almost bucolic in their use – and all juxtaposed with the stunning models in modern ankara pieces providing a strong focal point for the images – one where the textiles mirror the relationships portrayed in the series.

Speaking on her first exhibition she said:

This is a story I am proud to be a part of; one that allows me to create the narrative and present the art in our lives. As a photographer, I love being able to connect with so many different people and what has fuelled the light in my career is the ability to produce work that I see myself represented in. CONNECTION is a celebration of how African Fashion inspires how we feel.
These moments highlight our greatness and allow us to meet our most authentic selves.
My mission is to spark conversation through art, empower the incredibly talented women that I am surrounded by, and honour our fashion legacy.

Check out images from the exhibition below: