Heather Agyepong was born in London to Ghanaian parents from the Ashanti tribe in Ghana. She earned a National Diploma in Performing Arts from City of Westminster College, followed by a BSc in Applied Psychology from the University of Kent. Subsequently, she graduated with an MA in Photography & Urban Cultures from Goldsmiths College, University of London before embarking on a career as a photographer and a performer.
Multidisciplinary visual artist, photographer, and performer, Heather Agyepong was born in London to Ghanaian parents from the Ashanti tribe in Ghana. She earned a National Diploma in Performing Arts from the City of Westminster College, followed by a BSc in Applied Psychology from the University of Kent. Subsequently, she graduated with an MA in Photography & Urban Cultures from Goldsmiths College, University of London. She has been nominated for various awards, including the Firecracker Photographic Grant in 2020.
Agyepong's photographic art is deeply entrenched in themes of mental health, diaspora, invisibility, and the archive. Her work illuminates often-neglected narratives, with a particular focus on the experiences of Black women. Since 2009, she has utilised lens-based and performance media, creating a cathartic connection between herself and her audience. By harnessing the power of 're-imagination,' she challenges and reinterprets dominant historical narratives. Agyepong's artistic practice has connected to the shared pain, trauma, and history embedded collectively within humanity. To this end, she incorporates Authentic Movement therapy in her explorations.
Her photographic series, Wish You Were Here, commissioned by and showcased initially at London's James Hyman Gallery in 2020 (now home to the Centre for British Photography), celebrated the early twentieth century dance craze, the Cake Walk, as exemplified by Aida Overton Walker, the renowned American vaudeville artist, often called the ‘Queen of the Cake Walk'. In her homage to Walker, Agyepong's focus on dance, rooted in the performances of pre-Civil War slaves, became the lens through which she addressed racial stereotyping. By interjecting herself into these images, she not only honoured Overton Walker's tenacity but amplified stories of empowerment vital for Black women, particularly those navigating prejudice within the creative spheres. At Tate Modern in 2017, Agyepong's exhibit, Yaa: But We Are Still Here, recognized the heroism of Yaa Asantewaa, who led the Ashanti uprising against British colonialism in 1900. This conflict arose when the British sought possession of the Ashantis' revered gold stool. In Ghana, Yaa stands as a figure of pride, tenacity, and defiance. Agyepong's representation at Tate highlighted these qualities without exploiting Black trauma. The exhibit was influenced by a Cambridge University study suggesting that the mental well-being of Black individuals of African descent diminishes without the presence of their fellow Black Africans.
Agyepong has been a prominent figure in the photographic and performance arts since 2009, with her works gaining attention both in the UK and internationally. 2023 saw her first foray into the cinematic world, as she joined the cast of Amazon Prime Video's adaptation of The Power, focusing on teenage girls who manifest superpowers. That year, she also portrayed Ama in School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play at the Lyric Hammersmith, London. This drama unfolds during 1986 within the prestigious Aburi Girls boarding school in Ghana. Agyepong currently lives and works in London, England. In the UK public domain, her work is held several collections, including Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.
Consult items in the Ben Uri archive related to [Heather Agyepong]
Publications related to [Heather Agyepong] in the Ben Uri Library