Thandiwe Muriu is a self-taught photographer born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. Muriu’s body of work showcases Africa’s diversity of cultures, textiles, and beauty norms, with an emphasis on empowering women. By employing rich, vibrant colours, she cleverly celebrates her African heritage and successfully tackles issues surrounding identity and self-perception.

Drawing inspiration from everyday faces and traditional hairstyles, Muriu explores the individual’s quest for identity and cultural roots, and in doing so explores her very own identity; first as an artist and creator, and secondly as a Black woman. The CAMO series, for instance, represents the tumultuous voyage to reclaim self-love which is often excluded from beauty standards in her own community.