Delphine Diallo
Photographer
Delphine Diallo is a Brooklyn-based French and Senegalese visual artist and photographer who graduated from the Académie Charpentier School of Visual Art, in Paris.
However, Diallo does not have a traditional background in fine art. On the contrary, she has explored multiple areas within the creative industries: from special effect motion art in the music industry to video editing and graphic design. In 2008, she moved to New York to explore her practice after giving up an Art Director role in Paris. Diallo was mentored by acclaimed photographer and artist Peter Beard who was impressed by her creativity and spontaneity before offering her to collaborate for the Pirelli calendar photo shoot in Botswana. Inspired by new environments on this trip, she decided to return to her father’s home city of Saint-Louis in Senegal to start her vision quest.
Sought to challenge the norms of our society and rewrite the rules of the industry, Diallo immerses herself in the realm of anthropology, mythology, religion, science and martial arts to inspire her to practise and release her mind. Her work takes her to far remote areas, as she insists on spending intimate time with her subjects to better represent their most innate energy: “I treat my process as if it were an adventure liberating a new protagonist”. Diallo’s powerful portraits unmask and stir an uninhibited insight that allows her audience to see beyond the facade and explore the subjects’ inner world beyond the photographic gaze. “We are in constant search for wonder and growth. I see art as a vessel to express consciousness and access to diffuse wisdom, enlightenment, fear, beauty, ugliness, mystery, faith, strength, fearless, universal matter”.
Combining artistic language with activism is part of Diallo’s ethos thus pushing the many possibilities of empowering women, youth, and cultural minorities through visual provocation – as she has brilliantly done in MTArt Agency’s public art projects. Diallo uses analogue and digital photography, collage and illustration, 3D printing and virtual reality technologies as she continues to explore new mediums. She is working towards creating social change and new dimensions where consciousness and art are a universal language connecting artists, and capable of sharing ideas and learning.
“I believe all humans, regardless of racial and geographic differences, share the same collective pool of instincts and images, though these manifest differently due to the moulding influence of culture. The time has come to go beyond the individual mind and relate our common universal connection to each other. We must collaborate, support, inspire, teach and learn together.”
Selected
artworks
The Twins and the Sunflower , 2014
Pigment inkjet on archival paper 76,2 x 50,8 cm or 101,6 x 76,2 cm Edition of 8
God is a woman – Ekonda Botolo / Congo , 2020
Inkjet archival pigment print on archival paper 76,2 x 50,8 cm or 101,6 x 76,2 cm 8
God is a woman – Yohana, Yoruba Crown , 2020
Inkjet archival pigment print on archival paper 76,2 x 50,8 cm or 101,6 x 76,2 cm 8
God is a woman – Yohana, Yoruba Crown, 2 , 2020
Pigment inkjet on archival paper 76,2 x 50,8 cm or 101,6 x 76,2 cm 8
Black Barbies / Awake , 2019
Pigment inkjet on achival paper 75x50cm or 101,6x76,2cm Edition of 8 or 15
Kali , 2018
Fine Archival Print Paper 76,2 x 50,8 cm (30 x 20 in) or 101,6 x 76,2 cm (40 x 30 in) Edition of 8 or 15
Shiva , 2018
Fine Archival Print Paper 76,2 x 50,8 cm (30 x 20 in) or 101,6 x 76,2 cm (40 x 30 in) Edition of 8 or 15
Openyoureyes , 2018
Fine Archival Print Paper 76,2 x 50,8 cm (30 x 20 in) or 101,6 x 76,2 cm (40 x 30 in) Edition of 8 or 15
Infinite , 2017
Fine Archival Print Paper 76,2 x 50,8 cm (30 x 20 in) or 101,6 x 76,2 cm (40 x 30 in) Edition of 8 or 15
Ritual/3D Mask , 2016
Fine Archival Print Paper 76,2 x 50,8 cm (30 x 20 in) or 101,6 x 76,2 cm (40 x 30 in) Edition of 8 or 15
Highness/Hybrid , 2018
Fine Archival Print Paper 76,2 x 50,8 cm (30 x 20 in) or 101,6 x 76,2 cm (40 x 30 in) Edition of 8 or 15
Genese , 2019
Fine Archival Print Paper 76,2 x 50,8 cm (30 x 20 in) or 101,6 x 76,2 cm (40 x 30 in) Edition of 8 or 15
Blackskinblackmask , 2017
Fine Archival Print Paper 76,2 x 50,8 cm (30 x 20 in) or 101,6 x 76,2 cm (40 x 30 in) Edition of 8 or 15Projects
ChangeNOW x MTArt Agency
Our artist Delphine Diallo, our founder Marine Tanguy and art curator Katy Hessel led a panel at ChangeNOW. Over three days, ChangeNOW’s summit puts the spotlight on the most concrete and innovative solutions to face the World’s biggest challenges. Alongside world-class speakers such as the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, the CEO of Orange, Alexandre Mars, and so many more inspiring personalities, Katy Hessel, our artist Delphine Diallo and our founder Marine Tanguy will discuss «Post COVID Art World: What Audiences Want» for ChangeNOW’s program « Art for change ». More information here.
Allure x Delphine Diallo
Our artist Delphine Diallo secured an incredible editorial shoot with the Condé Nast Group. For their very special project « The Melanin Edit », Allure asked our artist to capture 3 dark-skinned women. Skin is such a critical and complex part of the human body, throughout history it has been seen that your skin tone, facial features, and hair texture can determine how you are treated in this world. Her photography is accompanied by three essays about navigating the world with Black skin and the challenges that can be faced. More information here.
Union Banque Privée x Léo Caillard x Delphine Diallo
Advising the most prestigious banks with the artworks they shall be acquiring for their corporate collection is a dream come true. We are so proud that Union Banque Privée (UBP) in Monaco decided to acquire both the works of Léo Caillard and Delphine Diallo for their progressive nature.
Nikon Europe x Delphine Diallo
Delphine Diallo tested for its launch the new Nikon Z7II for this shoot. Photography allows her to interpret her experience as a human being and express it visually. Delphine uses an interesting mix of collage and photography to create an iconic vision of the black woman: an interpretation of which she feels are underrepresented.
The Crown Estate x Delphine Diallo
Occupying 12 metres of vacant shopfronts in the heart of Regent Street, the public art exhibition “One Love” showcases Delphine Diallo’s powerful photography. The exhibition opens the narrative for a more inclusive world and society. Working with The Crown Estate, MTArt Agency has been installing artworks on shopfronts and hoardings to keep the area an uplifting place to visit in spite of the Covid crisis. The trail of public art is accessible to everyone, promoting positivity, inclusivity and empowerment.
Highness / StandardVision x Delphine Diallo
StandardVision invited our artist Delphine Diallo to display her “Highness” series on a massive media facade in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles.
The Twilight Zone/ JR Studio x Delphine Diallo
JR commissioned Delphine to collage her photograph “Infinite” on the facade of a building in New York
HOPE Exhibition
We put together a hope-themed art exhibition thanks to Sookspaces with curator Mary Ahearn that celebrates the role that art plays into our lives and our hearts. Featuring Delphine Diallo, Tiffany Bouelle, Amber Vittoria, Asiko, Andrea Tyrimos, David Aiu Servan-Schreiber, Claire Luxton and Léo Caillard.