David Uzochukwu

David Ejikeme Uzochukwu (born 10 December 1998) is an Austrian–Nigerian art photographer with a focus on portrait photography who lives and works in Brussels and Berlin.
Early life and education.
Born David Ejikeme Uzochukwu in Innsbruck, Austria, to an Austrian mother and a Nigerian father. He was raised in Innsbruck, before moving to Luxembourg and Brussels. He has since lived in Vienna and Berlin where he studies towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts in philosophy at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Work.
Uzochukwu started with Self-portraiture and evolved to photographing Portraits in nature. His photography combines post-production and intimate portraiture, frequently imparting images with an aura of isolation hanging over his body in physical manifestations of smoke, clouds, water, and fire. His surreal images present, for example, blue skies that become walls, crystals that float in mid-air, volcanic sand that becomes a comforting shroud, or blood that turns into a mask. 
His work has often channeled his observations on race and queerness. At "Unseen Amsterdam", for instance, he premiered a series of photographs which used the image of humanoid water creatures, equipped with fins, tails, or sharp teeth. In 2019, Uzochukwu was quoted saying that these works express 'what it means to be dubbed 'black," to have an oppressive notion of race imposed upon, and to thrive nonetheless.'
His latest project is a celebration of Nigerian creatives. Each portrait focuses on the 'disruptive energy' these artists use to push boundaries and make things happen.
His work is inspired by artists such as American photographer Gregory Crewdson and Kenyan-American artist Wangechi Mutu, whose works construct personal universes that conflate gender, race, art history, and personal identity.
In 2016, his series "A Familiar Ruin" was shown at BOZAR Center for Fine Arts as part of the group show "Dey Your Lane!," curated by Nigerian Azu Nwagbogu.
Career.
Uzochukwu began taking pictures at an early age. Already competent using his mother's point-and-shoot camera at age 10, he started sharing his photographs more widely at the age of 13. At 16, Uzochukwu went professional and signed with Iconoclast Image and Gallery 8. At 17, FKA Twigs handpicked Uzochukwu to shoot a significant campaign for Nike in Mexico.
Uzochukwu has created campaigns for clients like Adobe Photoshop, The Paris Opera (Opéra National de Paris), Dior, Nike, Iris van Herpen, and World Wildlife Fund, and worked with artists such as FKA Twigs, Ibeyi, Benjamin Clementine, Labrinth, Little Dragon, and Pharell Williams.
Recognition.
In 2014, he was named EyeEm Photographer of the Year, as well as one of Flickr's inaugural 20under20. In 2015, he was among the few selected for Adobe Photoshop's 25 Under 25 and received the Canon x Exhibitr Student Photography Award. In 2019, he was selected for the CPH:LAB 2019/2020, the talent development program of Copenhagen International Documentary Festival.