Originally from Kenya, stories played a big impact in MaiWa's upbringing; they were a form of entertainment during and after dinner and a reliable method of communication in bringing people together and creating spaces where everyone was equal regardless of their age, wealth and health. Her work integrates photography and text, and explore themes of stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination. Currently MaiWa works at Ffotogallery Wales as a Creative Producer and in her spare time, she works on her ongoing project "If This Is A Human: a great curiosity" - about albinism.
Exhibitions
2022 1854 British Journal of Photography, Decade of Change, Belfast Photo Festival, Northern Ireland.
2022 NOOR Images, Capturing Climate Change, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
2019 Where On Earth, Cardiff, Wales.
2018 National Museum of Wales - Black History Month, Cardiff Wales.
2018 5th Biennial of Fine Art and Documentary Photography, Barcelona, Spain.
Awards/Commissions
2022 Longlisted for Aesthetica Art Prize 2021
Firecracker Grant Winner
2021 FORMAT Portfolio Review Bursary2021 Shortlisted for the Leica x 1854 Commission, Witness of: Individuality.
2021 Fellow and Recipient of Days Ahead (Siku Za Mbele) Project
2018 Recipient of The Reginald Salisbury Fund Travel Award
Masterclass/Workshops
2021 NOOR Images Masterclass, Capturing Climate Change, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
2019 Youth Heritage Leader: Co-curator at National Museum Wales, Cardiff, Wales.
2017 Photography Workshops - Welsh Refugee Council, Cardiff, Wales.
Membership
World Press Photo's African Photojournalism Database (APJD)
Education
2019 MA Documentary Photography (University of South Wales)
2017 BA Psychology with Criminology (University of Winchester)