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Zanele Muholi — Miss Lesbian III, Amsterdam
Zanele Muholi

Miss Lesbian III, Amsterdam

2009

Captured in Amsterdam in 2009, Miss Lesbian III is one of the defining images from Zanele Muholi's landmark series Faces and Phases, a sustained visual testament to Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex lives in South Africa and beyond. The subject gazes directly into the camera with composed authority, the high-contrast monochrome rendering drawing attention to the textures of skin, hair, and clothing while stripping away any extraneous visual noise. That directness is not incidental. It is the core of Muholi's practice, a deliberate act of witness that positions portraiture as a form of resistance against erasure and violence. Muholi, who identifies as a visual activist rather than simply a photographer, has built one of the most consequential bodies of documentary work in contemporary photography. Miss Lesbian III exemplifies the intimacy and dignity that distinguishes the series, honoring each sitter as an individual rather than a symbol while simultaneously contributing to a collective archive of visibility. The work is printed as an archival pigment print measuring 76.2 by 50.8 centimeters, a scale that commands presence on the wall and sustains the weight of the subject's gaze. Presented by Yancey Richardson Gallery and offered in a signed, framed edition, this work represents a rare opportunity to acquire a piece from one of Muholi's most celebrated and widely exhibited projects. The photograph has been shown in major institutional contexts internationally, and its historical and humanitarian significance continues to grow alongside Muholi's increasingly prominent position within the global canon of documentary and portrait photography.

Medium
Archival pigment print
Overall
Framed
Signed
Yes

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About this work

Zanele Muholi, Miss Lesbian III, Amsterdam, 2009

Captured in Amsterdam in 2009, Miss Lesbian III is one of the defining images from Zanele Muholi's landmark series Faces and Phases, a sustained visual testament to Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex lives in South Africa and beyond. The subject gazes directly into the camera with composed authority, the high-contrast monochrome rendering drawing attention to the textures of skin, hair, and clothing while stripping away any extraneous visual noise. That directness is not incidental. It is the core of Muholi's practice, a deliberate act of witness that positions portraiture as a form of resistance against erasure and violence. Muholi, who identifies as a visual activist rather than simply a photographer, has built one of the most consequential bodies of documentary work in contemporary photography. Miss Lesbian III exemplifies the intimacy and dignity that distinguishes the series, honoring each sitter as an individual rather than a symbol while simultaneously contributing to a collective archive of visibility. The work is printed as an archival pigment print measuring 76.2 by 50.8 centimeters, a scale that commands presence on the wall and sustains the weight of the subject's gaze. Presented by Yancey Richardson Gallery and offered in a signed, framed edition, this work represents a rare opportunity to acquire a piece from one of Muholi's most celebrated and widely exhibited projects. The photograph has been shown in major institutional contexts internationally, and its historical and humanitarian significance continues to grow alongside Muholi's increasingly prominent position within the global canon of documentary and portrait photography.

Medium
Archival pigment print
Dimensions
overall: 76.2 x 50.8 cm • framed: 87.6 x 61 cm
Year
2009
Signed
Hand-signed by the artist
Seen at
Yancey Richardson Gallery

Related themes

Documentary Photography, LGBTQ+ Artist, Black And White, Archival Pigment Print, LGBTQ Identity, Contemporary Art, Visual Activism, Portrait Photography, South African

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