Atong Atem is an Ethiopian born, South Sudanese artist and writer living in Naarm/Melbourne.
Atem’s work explores the inherent intimacy of portraiture and photography as well as the role photographers take as story tellers, interrogating photography as a framework for looking at the world and positioning people in it. She takes framing into a fantastical direction with the small portals over the subjects’ faces, inviting the viewer to look at them through a surreal and constructed lens.
Atem references the works of 20th century African studio photographers Malick Sidibe, Philip Kwame Apagya and Seydou Keita to create a visual representation of a relationship to culture. She works primarily with photography, video and textiles to explore migrant narratives and postcolonial practices in the African diaspora, the relationship between public and private spaces and the exploration of home and identity through portraiture.
Atem has exhibited her work across Australia, including National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Portrait Gallery, Immigration Museum, Gertrude Contemporary and Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. Atem has at international art fairs including Photo London 2023, Photo Basel 2022, Unseen Photo Fair 2024 and Vogue Fashion Fair in Milan.
Atem has exhibited internationally at the Tate Modern, London, Rotterdam’s Wereldmuseum, Fotografiska Shanghai and with PHOTO Australia at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). In partnership with the V&A, Atem has also exhibited in the Africa Fashion exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. Atem’s work is featured in a permanent exhibition at the National Maritime Museum of the Netherlands.
Atem was the recipient of the inaugural La Prairie Art Award from the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 2022 and the National Gallery of Victoria and MECCA M-Power scholarship in 2017. Her work is held in numerous collections including the National Gallery of Victoria, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the State Library Victoria and the National Portrait Gallery, Australia.