British artist and photographer Yosra El-Essawy, who was born to Egyptian parents, raised in London, and maintained homes in New York, London and Cairo, is somewhat of a nomad. Forever blessed with love and beautiful hearts, her family extends far and wide.
On Tuesday, Sept. 23, an art exhibition featuring selections from a vast body of work chronicling the human condition across several continents will open at 81 Leonard St., Shoreditch, London, EC2A 4QS. In presenting this work together for the first time, her process is highlighted, connecting disciplines from photography to drawing and mixed media. In all its varied forms, the photographic core of her work is transformative.
El-Essawy has a unique gift: she sees the world around her in an extraordinary way so it is only natural that her photographs do the same. They reveal the beauty in the every day, exposing the story behind every face. Whether capturing a detail during a live performance or seeing into the soul of an elderly stranger, there’s a consistent meditation on universal love that can be seen in her work. In June 2013, while on Beyoncé’s The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour as the official photographer, and just shy of her 32nd birthday, El-Essawy was diagnosed with stage 4, inoperable oesophageal cancer. Since then, the social media platform Instagram became her preferred tool for communicating updates and reflections on her journey. Through periodic posts of beautiful, honest text and compelling photographs, she has remained connected to friends and community around the globe.
The exhibit is open to the public from Tuesday, Sept. 23 to Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m to 6 p.m.
Click the gallery below to see what’s in store.
