Faces and Phases is a photographic and narrative project by acclaimed visual activist and photographer Zanele Muholi, presented through the lens of the Muholi Art Institute. The project explores identity, transformation, and the human experience, capturing the diverse realities of individuals and communities often underrepresented in mainstream visual culture. Through intimate and powerful portraiture, Faces and Phases documents not only the faces of its subjects but also the phases of their personal, social, and cultural journeys, weaving a rich tapestry of resilience, visibility, and self-expression.

Muholi’s work is grounded in the belief that every face tells a story, and every life phase shapes the individual and their community. By combining photography with storytelling, the project emphasizes the fluidity of identity, capturing moments of growth, struggle, joy, and transformation. It reflects both the vulnerability and the strength of its subjects, while acknowledging the broader social, cultural, and political landscapes that influence their experiences.

More than a photographic series, Faces and Phases is a platform for dialogue, visibility, and empowerment. It invites audiences to witness nuanced, often overlooked realities, fostering empathy, understanding, and recognition. Each portrait functions as both an intimate encounter and a broader conversation about representation, belonging, and the journeys that define human life.

The project also serves as an archival and activist practice, preserving stories that might otherwise be forgotten while celebrating the diversity, resilience, and beauty of the human spirit. By capturing both the visible and invisible, the external appearance and internal journey, Faces and Phases bridges personal narrative and collective memory, presenting a powerful mosaic of humanity in all its complexity.

Through this work, Zanele Muholi continues to assert photography as a tool for social change, empowerment, and the affirmation of identity, making Faces and Phases both a visual and cultural landmark.