Our Woman Crush Wednesday, Etinosa Yvonne is a visual storyteller whose work grows from curiosity, patience and a deep respect for lived experience. Based in Abuja, Nigeria, she taught herself the craft of documentary photography and has since expanded her practice to include film, writing and immersive art. Her work pays close attention to how people make meaning of their lives, exploring belief systems, heritage, the natural world, social divides and the quiet struggles of being human.
One of her most recognised bodies of work, It’s All In My Head, started in 2018 as a photography series and gradually unfolded into a broader creative journey. Through this project, Etinosa examined mental health with honesty and care, allowing personal stories to guide the work rather than spectacle. Its depth and sensitivity earned support and recognition from organisations such as the National Geographic Society, CARE in partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation, Art X, Royal Photographic Society, and Women Photograph.
Etinosa’s approach to art is rooted in responsibility. She chooses stories that matter and tells them with restraint and empathy. This commitment led to a special assignment from the United Nations Population Fund in New York in 2019, where her ability to handle complex social themes with clarity and respect stood out.
Her work has been exhibited across continents, from museums and cultural spaces in Nigeria to institutions in Europe and North America. These include the National Museum in Cross River State, the Irpino Visual Anthropological Museum in Italy, the 12th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art, the Fitchburg Art Museum in Massachusetts, the African American Museum in Philadelphia, and the International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva.
Beyond exhibitions, Etinosa’s photographs and essays have appeared in leading international publications such as DER SPIEGEL, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Businessweek, El País Semanal, Al Jazeera, Metro UK, The Guardian UK, and Black & White Photography Magazine, reaching audiences far beyond gallery walls.
Her desire to keep learning has taken her into research-based and experimental spaces, including a three-month residency at Gasworks in London, the PhotoVogue Digital NFT Residency, and the Electric South Immersive Lab in South Africa. These experiences continue to shape how she thinks about image-making and storytelling.
In recent years, Etinosa has also stepped into leadership roles within the creative community. She mentors emerging photographers, leads workshops, raises funds for creative causes and manages demanding projects, all while maintaining an active personal practice. Entinosa would be speaking at the 10th edition of the Emotional Well-Being Conference on the 1st of May, 2025.
Today, Etinosa works on both commissioned and independent projects across Nigeria and internationally. Pride Magazine Nigeria appreciates Etinosa’s work which brims with thoughtfulness and grounded reality, reminding us that some of the most important stories are told with care rather than noise.