TREVOR STUURMAN

Blurring the lines between subject and observer, Stuurman’s body of work explores the role of young African artists and the power of digital media in shaping contemporary African identity. Described by CNN’s African Voices as “a cultural force,” his work challenges representation while celebrating a vibrant and unapologetic vision of Africa.

Born in Kimberley, South Africa’s historic mining capital, Stuurman draws deeply from his background in motion picture live performance. His practice spans multiple creative disciplines — including fashion, performance, photography, and installation — allowing him to craft a uniquely African “perspective on beauty,” which he describes as “a place imbued with colour, love, and belonging that reflects Africa.” A passionate humanitarian and cultural documentarian, Stuurman has worked with the United Nations, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Obama Foundation, notably capturing former U.S. President Barack Obama during his travels across Africa.

His portraiture includes global luminaries such as Dr. Esther Mahlangu, Naomi Campbell, Teyana Taylor, Shanelle Nyasiase, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and Iman Hammam. A key creative contributor and stylist for Beyoncé’s ‘Black is King’ and a contributor to British Vogue, Stuurman has played a significant role in spotlighting African creatives through platforms such as Arise Africa and AfroPunk Johannesburg.In 2024, his work was acquired by the Brooklyn Museum and exhibited in ‘Digitalia — The Art and Economy of Ideas’ at the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco. His pieces have also been featured in the Brooklyn Museum’s ‘Africa Fashion’ exhibition (2023) and the International Center for Photography’s ‘Scenes from the Streets’.

Stuurman has curated immersive and impactful installations, including ‘Teleporting into Africa’ and ‘This Is Home’ for the Absolut One Source Live Creative Festivals, ‘A Place Called Home’ with Botho Project Space in Johannesburg, and ‘This Is Home’ at the Motsepe Foundation’s Mandela 100 Summit. His work has also been exhibited internationally with THK Gallery at the Cape Town Art Fair, Enter Art Fair in Denmark, and 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fairs in London and New York.

Alongside his fine art practice, Stuurman is a sought-after creative collaborator, working with leading global brands including Montblanc (as one of Africa’s Montblanc Mark Makers), Disney, Gucci, Mini Cooper, Nedbank, G-Star RAW, Vivo Mobile, Rich Mnisi, Tongoro, Moshions, and Laurence Airline. He has also collaborated with influential creatives and artists such as Black Coffee, The Carters — Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Ciara, Nelson Makamo, Tiwa Savage, and Dear Ribane.