Internationally acclaimed British Nigerian photographer Misan Harriman has opened his first solo exhibition at Hope 93 in London. Hope93 is a gallery space, art advisory and events space in central London. We speak to the artist and Hope 93 founder Aki Abiola.
“Misan’s work captures something truly rare: the quiet, transformative power of real people making extraordinary change,” says Aki Abiola, Founder of Hope 93. “His images don’t just document history; they hold it still, long enough for us to feel it.
“Through his lens, we see the world not as it is framed in headlines, but as it lives in hearts and communities.”
The Purpose of Light features more than 100 original photographic works in a public display at the Hope 93 Gallery, Fitzrovia, London, from 10th July to 18th September. The images were captured between 2019 and 2025, spanning continents and movements, from London to Lagos, Minneapolis to Marseille. Yet, one aim remains at its heart: to depict the experiences of everyday people at the forefront of change. There are protestors and parents, community builders and students.
Misan Harriman said, “I have always used my lens as a form of protest. Light reveals truth, and my purpose has always been to honour those whose courage shapes our future.
“These images are not just stories; they are acts of remembrance and resistance. Each person I’ve photographed gave something of themselves to the world, sometimes in joy, sometimes in pain, but always in truth. This exhibition is a tribute to them, to the power of standing up, and the beauty of being seen.”
Misan Harriman is a self-taught photographer who rose to international prominence in 2020 after capturing striking images of the Black Lives Matter protests in London. His photos became defining visuals of the movement, widely shared for their emotional depth and immediacy. And later that year, he became the first Black photographer in British Vogue’s 104-year history to shoot the magazine’s cover, a powerful portrait of Adwoa Aboah and Marcus Rashford for Vogue’s activism-themed September 2020 issue. Even in the world of celebrity, he focused his lens on change-makers, including Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, Cate Blanchett, Stormzy and Rihanna.
In 2024, Harriman’s directorial debut, The After, a short film starring David Oyelowo, received an Oscar Nomination for Best Live Action Short in 2024 and was praised for its raw exploration of grief and healing.
His move into film marked a broader evolution of his storytelling practice, rooted in empathy and justice. In 2021, Harriman was appointed Chair of the Southbank Centre, the UK’s largest arts institution, becoming the first Black person to hold the position.
It is a fitting exhibition for Hope 93, founded by Aki Abiola, a London-based Nigerian who currently sits on the Tate Museum acquisition committee, as well as Pallant House. It is a venture that supports creatives from multiple disciplines at any point in their careers, providing a vital platform to connect them with collectors, community and support, especially those from diverse backgrounds.
With an inclusivity mission at its heart, the gallery showcases the works of both emerging and established artists, supported by affiliated international curators, galleries and museums.
Aki Abiola said, “We are honoured to present The Purpose of Light, an exhibition that embodies the values we stand for: equity, truth, and the belief that art can drive real change.”
The Purpose of Light exhibition unfolds across five thematic strands: civil rights and protest, climate and cultural activism, queer and trans visibility, belonging and intimacy and global identity. Together, the themes present a poignant portrait of our times, one shaped by those who are often overlooked yet indispensable to progress.
For more information, please visit hope93.com and @hope93gallery.
