Liz Johnson Artur
Russian-Ghanaian Artist
Liz Johnson Artur is a Russian-Ghanaian artist based in South East London. Growing up in East Europe and Germany, far from her African roots, she uses photography to explore her heritage and the lives of Black communities.
Arriving in London in 1991, Liz has spent the last thirty years creating Black Balloon Archive, a rich collection of documentary photographs exploring Black identity and culture. The images have been praised for their vibrancy and sense of community. In 2021, Liz was awarded the third annual Women In Motion Award at the Théâtre Antique, Arles, in particular recognition of this Archive.
This year, Liz was also featured in An Infinity of Traces, a group exhibition at Lisson Gallery, London. Curated by Ekow Eshun, the exhibition features UK-based established and emerging Black artists whose work explores notions of race, history, being and belonging.
This year, Liz won the Kering and the Rencontres d’Arles 2021 Women In Motion Award.
