When Pharrell Williams speaks, the world listens. But when he curates, he creates space, the kind of space that turns the spotlight outward, illuminating powerful stories that need to be seen. One such story is that of Kenyan visual artist and photographer Thandiwe Muriu, whose work now hangs in the halls of the Perrotin Gallery in Paris as part of FEMMES, a groundbreaking group exhibition curated personally by Pharrell.
Running until April 19, 2025, FEMMES is a celebration of Black womanhood, a rich, intersectional offering of voices, mediums and cultural perspectives from around the globe. Featuring nearly 40 artists, including iconic names like Zanele Muholi and Esther Mahlangu, the exhibition places Thandiwe Muriu’s work firmly among the world’s most influential artistic voices.
A Lens Rooted in Culture
Thandiwe Muriu’s contribution to FEMMES is anchored in her acclaimed CAMO series, a vivid photographic celebration of African identity and womanhood. Each image wraps its subject in kaleidoscopic textiles, traditional hairstyles, and unexpected objects-as-accessories, think soda cans as hair rollers and bottle tops as earrings. The result? A body of work that reclaims African beauty standards and tells stories that feel both hyper-local and globally resonant.
Born and raised in Nairobi, Muriu is entirely self-taught. She picked up her father’s old Nikon at 14, and by 23, was shooting major commercial campaigns across East Africa. Her rise speaks to a generation of creatives who are bypassing traditional art-world gatekeepers and rewriting the rules of what it means to be a global artist from the continent.
From Nairobi to Paris and Beyond
Pharrell’s curation of FEMMES is more than a co-sign. It’s a global amplifier — turning up the volume on creatives like Thandiwe whose work is both deeply personal and powerfully universal.
This exhibition is a tribute to the artists who transform the world through the power of their hands”-Pharrell said on behalf of FEMMES
Thandiwe Muriu does just that — transforming pattern, texture and legacy into a visual language all her own.Her inclusion in this lineup is not just a career milestone. It’s a moment for African visual storytelling, and a call for the world to look — really look — at the bold, nuanced creativity coming from the continent.
The Bigger Picture
For a generation of young African artists, Muriu’s story is a blueprint. Her rise from Nairobi’s creative fringes to the global stage proves that the world is watching — and finally, it’s ready to see African women through our own lenses.
As FEMMES wraps later this month in Paris, it leaves behind more than just a gallery of striking images. It leaves a ripple — one that will echo through art schools, Instagram feeds, and the hearts of future image-makers across Africa.
