Sammy Baloji

Sammy Baloji is a photographer and multidisciplinary artist, whose work interrogates abuse of power and its legacy, revealing the devastating impact that exploitative cultures have on the environment. Sammy has been exploring the memory and history of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and his work is an ongoing research on the cultural, architectural, and industrial heritage of the Katanga region, as well as a questioning of the impact of Belgian colonization. His use of photographic archives allows him to manipulate time and space, comparing ancient colonial narratives with contemporary economic imperialism. His video works, installations, and photographic series highlight how identities are shaped, transformed, and reinvented. 

A Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, he has received numerous fellowships, awards, and distinctions, notably at the African Photography Encounters of Bamako and the Dakar Biennale, and was a laureate of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative. In 2019-2020, he was a resident of the French Academy of Rome – Villa Medici. Since 2018, he teaches at the Sommerakademie in Salzburg.