Naomi Mukadi is a photographer from Gabon whose work involves an investigation into social issues and environmental activism through photography. Photography is her passion, and her focus on portraiture and fashion makes her portfolio remarkable and emotional. “Photography for me is a passion, my job. The means by which several aspects of my creativity are expressed and grouped together. It’s a message that each photo carries, it’s beauty and time captured,” she explains. Through her lens, she captures the fleeting beauty of the human form, while also creating timeless portraits that tell the stories of her subjects, whether they are people or nature.
“By 2030 humanity will produce about 600 million tons of plastic per year If only 26% of our waste is transformed or recycled today, the rest of our production does not evaporate in nature, but rather invades it. It is a toxic waste whose presence is becoming more and more important in our environment. Awareness of the scale of this disaster is urgent and the concrete actions that must be taken even more so. Actions against overconsumption against overproduction linked to all forms of plastics are urgent. We need to act.”
Mukadi’s portraits are characterized by their deep intimacy and authenticity. Each image is carefully composed to reveal not just the outward appearance of her subjects but the layers beneath the surface—emotions, struggles, and stories. Mukadi’s ability to engage with her subjects and reveal their inner world through photography has made her a sought-after artist in both local and international art scenes.
In recent years, Mukadi’s work has taken on a more committed and activist role, particularly in the context of environmental issues. Drawing inspiration from her surroundings in Libreville, Gabon, she has increasingly focused on capturing the devastating effects of climate change and environmental destruction. One of her most powerful subjects has been plastic pollution, a global crisis that she compares to a pandemic that threatens the planet in ways that are often invisible or ignored.
“By 2030 humanity will produce about 600 million tons of plastic per year. If only 26% of our waste is transformed or recycled today, the rest of our production does not evaporate in nature, but rather invades it. It is a toxic waste whose presence is becoming more and more important in our environment. Awareness of the scale of this disaster is urgent,” Mukadi warns. Her commitment to climate activism is evident in her photographic work, which often juxtaposes the beauty of nature with the stark reality of plastic waste, showing the inextricable link between overproduction, overconsumption, and environmental degradation.
Mukadi’s work on plastic pollution gained wider recognition when she contributed to the African Climate Week. She selected plastic as a subject of focus, drawing attention to its pervasive presence in ecosystems across the globe. “It’s a real threat the world has never known and yet it continues to be consumed in droves,” she states. Her images expose the alarming rate at which plastic invades our environments, underscoring the urgency of action against overconsumption and the lack of proper recycling solutions. Through her photos, she calls for a reevaluation of humanity’s relationship with plastic and urges people to recognize their role in the planet’s future.
Mukadi’s art journey began in 2017 when she made the bold decision to turn her passion for photography into a professional career. Specializing in portraiture and fashion, she quickly made her mark in Gabon’s artistic scene. In 2018, she participated in her first group exhibition, Picha & Color, held in Libreville, alongside other local artists. Two years later, her work traveled to Switzerland as part of the BLACK ART MATTER exhibition, where her photography was shown alongside 70 other artists from the Afro World. This exhibition expanded her reach, giving her art a more global dimension, and further cementing her reputation as a committed photographer with a humanitarian voice.
Mukadi’s photography, whether it be her evocative portraits or her environmental advocacy, challenges viewers to think critically about the world around them. Through her lens, she not only captures moments but also delivers powerful messages about human responsibility and the need for change. Her work invites us to reflect on the beauty of the world, while never losing sight of the urgent issues that threaten it.
As Mukadi continues to push boundaries in her photography, her focus on environmentalism and climate change remains at the heart of her practice. Through her powerful images, she is shaping a narrative that calls for both reflection and action, using her art to inspire positive change for a better, more sustainable future.
Naomi Mukadi is a photographer from Gabon.
“Photography for me is a passion, my job. The means by which several aspects of my creativity are expressed and grouped together. It’s a message that each photo carries, it’s beauty and time captured.”
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“On the occasion of the African Climate Week, I was taken to work on the subject. I chose plastic because I compare it to a pandemic that is raging before our eyes, involving all of humanity without the majority feeling concerned. It invades our entire ecosystem. It’s a real threat the world has never known and yet it continues to be consumed in droves. It was also a way to denounce the overproduction and consumption of plastic, without responding to the problems of transformation and recycling. And to remember that the only link between pollution and the environment was man.”
Committed photographer based in Libreville, It was in 2017 that I officially made my passion my profession by specializing in portraiture and fashion photography. In 2018 I participated for the first time in a group exhibition in Libreville named Picha & Color alongside other Gabonese colleagues and two years later my works were exhibited in Switzerland at the committed exhibition BLACK ART MATTER with 70 other artists from the Afro Word which opens my art to an even more committed aspect, which carries a humanitarian message.