the pure, unadulterated beauty of the ivory coast is the highlight of this photographer’s “ivorian” photo series

Mississippi-born photographer and artist Samantha Yancey finds her inspiration by traveling in order to experience a diversity of cultures in which she immerses herself. In her most recent series ‘Ivorian’, Yancey documents her 3-month stay in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), where she captures the enchanting beauty of Cote d’Ivoire and the people that make it.

Yancey stayed with Abidjan-based dancer/choreographer Barakissa Coulibaly and her family. Coulibaly’s family and foster children largely influenced the photo series. Coulibaly runs a program called “Petit Coeur d’Afrique” (“Little Hearts of Africa”) works to renovate public schools that were damaged during the civil war, therefore allowing Ivorian children to continue an education in academics and the arts that they may otherwise go without.”

Yancey’s self-portrait ‘Roots’ (above) was featured on the cover of ‘Leesburg’, a book inspired by the state of Georgia, published by the University of Georgia Press. Yancey was awarded the 5th China Jinan International Photography Biennial and she was selected by curator Mary Stanley as one of the 2017 Atlanta Celebrates Photography Ones To Watch, recognizing 10 emerging and established photographers who are highly collectable and on a positive trajectory in their careers.