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Bleda, Elsa

Born 1988 in Aix-les Bains, France
Lives and works in Johannesburg, South Africa

Elsa Bleda, Untitled, 2014 – ongoing, From the series, Nighscapes, Johannesburg, 60 x 80 cm, Edition of 10, Courtesy AFRONOVA GALLERY  

Elsa Bleda’s nocturnal cityscapes began as a personal exploration of her adopted hometown, Johannesburg, with a distinct focus on light and its absence. Despite it being deeply anchored in a specific locale, her work permeates with an air of haunting universality through its use of long-exposure photography: moving elements and passers-by are blurred, while the ubiquitous fluorescent glare of neon signs remains sharply in focus. Bearing an unconventional yet strong visual identity, Bleda’s night works are so aptly described as post-future gothic, uniquely composed through the use of light as well as its absence, in juxtaposition to her daylight works which are often dreamy and softer with color plays and an eerie mood.

As a child, Bleda travelled often and eventually settled in South Africa in her teenage years. Whilst studying music production, Bleda continued to develop her passion for photography and film. Her first major collaboration was shooting a global campaign for Apple, focusing on the underground artists of South Africa and was shown on all major billboards around the world. She recently became the face of Lexus’ latest campaign “New Horizons”. In 2016, preeminent creative director Trevor Beattie chose Elsa as one of his ‘Famous Five’ and, as a result, she appeared on the cover of The Drum magazine. She recently showed at Paris Photo with AFRONOVA GALLERY and Magnin-a Gallery. Bleda has been featured in multiple local and international publications including the Washington Post.

Selected Artists

taylor barnes

Moshekwa Langa

Alshaikh Idrees

Jess Atieno

Demarco Mosby

Lord Ohene

Bashaer Hawsawi

WonderBuhle Mbambo

Artists 2022

  • A

    • Abi Salami
    • Alshaikh Idrees
    • Audrey Lyall
  • B

    • Bashaer Hawsawi
    • Bertina Lopes
    • Boluwatife Oyediran
    • Bre Andy
  • C

    • Chinaedu Nwadibia
    • Cosmo Whyte
    • Cristiano Mangovo
    • Crystal Yayra Anthony
  • D

    • David Uzochukwu
    • Demarco Mosby
    • Didier Viodé
    • Dindga McCannon
    • DuduBloom More
  • E

    • Elias Mung’ora
    • Everlyn Nicodemus
  • F

    • Fahamu Pecou
  • H

    • Hend Adnan
  • I

    • Ibrahim El Dessouki
  • J

    • Jess Atieno
    • Jewel Ham
    • Joël Bigaignon
    • Johanna Mirabel
    • Johnson Ocheja
  • K

    • King Houndekpinkou
    • Kpé Innocent
  • L

    • Leila Rose Fanner
    • Lewinale Havette
    • Lord Ohene
    • Ludovic Nkoth
  • M

    • Michael Reese
    • Morgan Mahape
    • Moshekwa Langa
    • Moustapha Baidi Oumarou
  • N

    • Nicolas Coleman
  • P

    • Preston Sampson
    • Prince Gyasi
  • R

    • Renee Cox
    • Roméo Mivekannin
    • Ryan Cosbert
  • S

    • Salifou Lindou
    • Sanaa Gateja
    • Senzeni Marasela
  • T

    • taylor barnes
    • Thandiwe Muriu
  • W

    • WonderBuhle Mbambo
  • Y

    • Yoan Sorin
  • Z

    • Zéh Palito

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