Salimah Ali

Salimah Ali, born Harlem NY, 1954 (Two By Two Client #6, 2022)
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Photographer | Visual Storyteller
 

I am the photographer, the artist, and the vehicle that captures moments in life and time—exactly as they are, and as they will remain. Through my lens, I don’t just take pictures—I tell stories. My work seeks to honor the depth of human emotion, the richness of culture, and the spirit of the people I encounter.

Born in Harlem, nurtured by Brooklyn, and now grounded in Queens, my story—like my work—is rooted in movement, transformation, and place. These boroughs, each with its rhythm and pulse, shaped my understanding of identity, culture, and storytelling. New York City is not just a backdrop—it’s the foundation of my artistic voice and the place where my career began. From the vibrant streets of Harlem to the layered textures of global communities, I’ve always felt the heartbeat of the city and the wider world guiding my lens.

 
Since 2005, I have been a proud member of Kamoinge, Inc., the historic collective of African American photographers established in 1963 to amplify the voices and visions of Black photographers and artists. Over the years, my work has been exhibited in a range of esteemed institutions, including The Studio Museum in Harlem, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, where it is part of the permanent collection. Additional exhibitions include Aperture Gallery, Tweed Gallery, Soho Photo Gallery, Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, Kenkeleba House, and The Schimmel Center for the Arts, among others.
 
In 2023, I received the inaugural Shahin Shahablou Photography Award in London for my portrait “Dare,” an image that speaks to the courage and complexity of the human spirit.
 
My photographs have been published in Black Enterprise, Essence, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, Newsday, Ebony.com, “Legendary Eye,” and many other notable outlets. My work is also featured in several seminal books, including Viewfinders: Black Women Photographers, Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers, 1840 to the Present, MFON: Women Photographers of the African Diaspora, Committed to the Image, and The Face of Our Past.
 

Through it all, I remain dedicated to capturing not just what we look like, but who we are—and who we’ve been. My photography is a tribute to legacy, identity, and the quiet power of presence.

Fine Art Photography