Sherie Ngigi: Kenyan photographer immortalising life's fragility through lens and memory

In the dimly lit corridors of the Ethnographic Museum of Warsaw, Poland, a hauntingly beautiful series of portraits titled Forever is Not Ours silently speaks to the impermanence of life.

The artist behind these ethereal works is none other than Kenyan portrait photographer and filmmaker, Sherie Margaret Ngigi.

Her work is part of Afrotope, an ongoing exhibition curated by Any Muhoro, Malaika Nabila, and Witek Orski, which brings together the creative brilliance of 18 photographers from across the African continent.

The exhibition runs until September 14 and is a powerful celebration of African identity and storytelling through visual art.

Sherie’s collection, Forever is Not Ours, is a poetic exploration of human mortality. Through hazy, ghostly portraits, she captures the delicate thread that binds us to existence.

The series challenges the conventional fear of death, presenting it as a mirror reflecting the grace and beauty hidden within life’s fleeting moments.

“I want people to reflect on their mortality and, in doing so, appreciate the fragility and beauty of life,” Sherie says.

“Death is not a dark end, but rather an inevitable transition that allows us to truly grasp the depth of our existence.”

Sherie’s creative process is deeply personal and intuitive. It begins with an emotion—something raw and unnameable, that she allows to guide her.

Through journaling, collecting memories, and experimenting with textures, she transforms these feelings into visual narratives.

“When I photograph, I’m not just capturing a person or a scene. I’m trying to catch what’s slipping away, the things we can’t hold onto,” she explains. “Each image carries my own history and invites the viewer to find theirs.”

Her unique ability to weave personal experiences with visual storytelling has made her work resonate with audiences both locally and internationally.

Sherie’s artistic journey began at Kenyatta University, where she pursued a diploma in fine art in 2015.

From painting and ceramics to textile design and filmmaking, she experimented with various mediums before finding her true voice in fine art photography.

Her work has since graced exhibitions across Africa, Europe, Italy, and the UAE, with her current display in Warsaw marking a significant milestone in her career.

“Being part of this exhibition and having my work showcased in a museum is a dream come true,” she reflects. “It’s proof that African artists can tell stories that transcend borders.”

For Sherie, her identity as a woman is inseparable from her artistic expression.

“My womanhood shapes how I move through the world and the stories I carry. To leave that out would be to silence the very core of my voice,” she asserts.

Her work not only captures the vulnerability of life but also amplifies the experiences and narratives of African women, contributing to the growing wave of female artists redefining the visual arts scene in Kenya.

Like many artists, Sherie has faced her share of challenges, from battling self-doubt to navigating the financial uncertainties of freelancing.

However, she has learned to overcome these struggles by trusting her creative process and surrounding herself with a supportive community of fellow artists.

“I’ve built a personal ritual of showing up for my work, even when no one is watching,” she says. “And that’s what keeps me grounded.”

As the visual arts industry in Kenya continues to evolve, Sherie remains hopeful about the growing support for female artists and the expanding opportunities both locally and internationally.

“It’s an incredible time to be a female artist in Kenya,” she says with a smile. “Our stories are finally being centered, and we’re creating spaces where we can uplift and support each other.”