An exhibition of Zanele Muholi’s Brave Beauties series – celebrating transgender women and gender-nonconforming people – opened at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on 20 August 2026.
The selection of powerful images was curated by transgender activist and artist Yaya Mavundla, herself a participant in Muholi’s ongoing photographic essay and archive of South African trans lives.
The event was also attended by several other participants in the series, who had the opportunity to look back at their own moments captured by the internationally acclaimed artist since 2013.
Muholi calls for trans lives to be documented
Muholi opened the exhibition by emphasising the need to document and visibilise the lives of trans and other LGBTIQ+ Africans.
The photographer paid tribute to the women who had chosen to step in front of the lens as an act of visibility, courage and defiance.
By doing so, they were creating space for other LGBTQ+ people to exist authentically. “Your voice heals; it saves lives,” emphasised Muholi.
Mavundla reflects on visibility
Speaking at the event, Mavundla said that the Brave Beauties series pushed back against her experience that, “if you are a Black trans woman in South Africa, nobody sees you.”
She acknowledged the deep bond she had shared with Muholi for many years. “You were the first person who told me that I was a trans woman – you helped me find my voice.”
The other participants also had the opportunity to share their empowering stories with the crowd, reflecting on how their lives had changed since they had been photographed.
Zanele Muholi’s Brave Beauties: Stories of Identity, Visibility & Courage is at the Women’s Jail at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, until 24 September 2026.
View images from the opening night below.
