Lee-Ann Olwage is a visual storyteller from South Africa who uses collaborative storytelling to explore themes relating to gender and identity. She is interested in using the medium of photography as a mode of co-creation and celebration and with her long-term projects, she aims to create a space where people she collaborates with can play an active part in the creation of images to tell their stories in a way that is both affirming and celebratory.
Her journey in photography began unexpectedly after studying film directing and
scriptwriting. Following her education, she spent nine years working as a set decorator in the film industry, an experience that profoundly shaped her approach to narrative and visual composition. Through this background, Olwage developed a keen eye for capturing not just imagery but also narratives. She is particularly interested in reflecting on the way in which different cultures and different communities interpret mental health and other issues that she fights for daily, such as education and social injustices. Through her art, Olwage continues to amplify marginalized voices and foster a sense of community.
After having received notable recognition, Olwage's is the recipient of multiple awards, including World Press Photo Award in 2020 and 2023, Sony World Photography Awards in 2023, International Women in Photo Award in 2023, Winner of This Is Gender, 2021, Pride Photo Award, 2021 and CAP Prize, 2022. Her extensive exhibition history includes showcases at The Bridge Gallery’s Resilience group show and International Women in Photography at Fisheye Gallery in Paris in 2024, Celebration at Bonne Espérance Gallery in Paris (2023), PhotoVogue Festival in Italy (2022) and Too Young To Wed - Girls on the Brink in the USA (2022).