Phillis Kwentoh is a Nigerian American art director and photographer based in New York City and the Caribbean. A self-taught photographer, Phillis began her career in 2007, documenting her family’s Onitsha village. She has since worked at ESSENCE magazine and exhibited in multiple galleries. Her work has been featured in MFON: Women Photographers of the African Diaspora, The New York Times, PhotoVogue Italia, MoCADA, the William Benton Museum of Art, and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum. In 2012, Phillis became a contributor to the PhotoVogue Collection at Art + Commerce. She is currently an Up Next member of Diversify Photo and a member of Black Women Photographers.

Phillis' work is greatly influenced by her culture, travel, her love of portraiture, and the beautiful people in her life. When she's not shooting portraits, Phillis is plotting her next adventure and daydreaming of living on a tropical island.

Update: Phillis is happily living on a tropical island.  🌺🐚

Publications

The New York Times, Self, ESSENCE, OkayAfrica, MFON: Women Photographers of the African Diaspora

News, Features & Exhibitions

2024 - Black Women Photographers member

2024 - Communication Arts 2024 Photography Shortlist

2023 - Diversify Photo: Up Next member

2020 - Format Magazine

2014 - Solo Exhibition: Cafe Habana & Habana Outpost, Brooklyn, NY

2012 - PhotoVogue contributor

2012 - Group Exhibition: Dandy Lion: Articulating a Re(de)fined Black Masculine Identity, Reginald F. Lewis Museum, Baltimore, MD

2011 - Group Exhibition: Dandy Lion: Articulating a Re(de)fined Black Masculine Identity, Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, Brooklyn, NY

2008 - Student Exhibition: William Benton Museum of Art, Storrs, CT