James Barnor

James Barnor (*1929) opened his first photography studio in Accra, Ghana, in 1949. He also worked for the press, capturing in photos the movement that led to his country’s independence in 1957. Living in the United Kingdom from 1959 to 1969, he documented the experience of the diaspora in the “Swinging London” of the sixties. He branched out to colour photography, and returned to Ghana in 1970 to cultivate the use of the technique. In 2021 he was honoured with a large-scale retrospective at the Serpentine Gallery in London.

Drum cover girl Erlin Ibreck at Trafalgar Square, London, 1966. 20,2x22cm, Ed. 50+50AP, stamped and numbered © James Barnor, courtesy galerie Clémentine de la Féronnière @james_barnor_archives / IKS PHOTO

Model posing for Agip Calendar, Accra, 1974. 22x22cm, Ed. 150, stamped and numbered © James Barnor, courtesy galerie Clémentine de la Féronnière @james_barnor_archives / IKS PHOTO

Ghanaian traditional hairstyle at Studio X23, Accra, c. 1970s. 20,3x22cm, Ed. 150+50AP, stamped and numbered © James Barnor, courtesy galerie Clémentine de la Féronnière @james_barnor_archives / IKS PHOTO