Exploring narratives of belonging, memory, and identity, the exhibition brings together photographers from around the world, with their works displayed both online and on London’s most prominent digital billboard.
Alex Paganelli, KIAMI. Courtesy of the artist and Autograph.
Autograph has launched ‘Small Stories of Diasporic Experience’, a new exhibition that amplifies the voices of artists documenting diasporic lives across multiple geographies. Known for its longstanding commitment to photography that addresses questions of identity and social justice, Autograph has developed this project as both an online showcase and a public intervention in the city. Between 27 September and 8 October, selected works will be shown on a large-scale digital billboard at Old Street Roundabout, one of London’s busiest intersections and a symbolic meeting point of technology, culture, and contemporary art.
Chosen from more than 600 submissions, the participating artists present deeply personal yet resonant perspectives on belonging, memory, and community. Lisbon-based photographer Alex Paganelli contributes an image from his ongoing series Afropolitana, which documents Afro-descendant identity in Lisbon. His portrait of Kiami, a young Angolan who migrated to Portugal at the age of 24, situates personal migration stories within broader historical and political contexts, including Angola’s approaching 50th anniversary of independence.
Other artists expand the scope of diasporic reflection across different cultural landscapes. The exhibition features portraits and visual narratives that range from intimate depictions of family life to broader meditations on heritage, displacement, and the resilience of diasporic communities. Together, these works highlight the multiplicity of diasporic experience, whether in Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, or further afield, foregrounding how photography can serve as a tool for visibility and dialogue.
The selection illustrates the richness of contemporary photographic practice while underscoring the political and social urgency of diasporic storytelling. By juxtaposing traditional documentary approaches with more experimental strategies, ‘Small Stories of Diasporic Experience’ foregrounds the breadth of artistic expression being used to examine identity today. Autograph’s online platform extends the exhibition’s reach, offering audiences worldwide access to this vital conversation.
For over three decades, Autograph has been at the forefront of championing artists who interrogate histories of race, identity, and representation. ‘Small Stories of Diasporic Experience’ continues this legacy by creating new points of connection between artists and publics. Whether encountered on a phone screen or unexpectedly at a busy London intersection, the works prompt reflection on the lived realities of diaspora, the ongoing impact of colonial histories, and the creative resilience of communities in motion.
The exhibition situates itself at the intersection of the personal and the collective, bringing attention to stories that are too often overlooked. As Paganelli himself notes, “The camera allows me to be in places I would otherwise never know. In this project, I photograph different neighborhoods, constantly discovering the cultural richness within each, especially at a time when these communities are at the center of public and political debates.”
Autograph’s decision to present these stories simultaneously in an art institution and in public space underscores the importance of accessibility and visibility in shaping cultural discourse. By placing diasporic narratives within one of London’s most trafficked sites, the project asserts that these stories belong at the very heart of contemporary culture.
‘Small Stories of Diasporic Experience’ is on view online through Autograph’s digital galleries and on the Old Street Roundabout billboard in London from 27 September to 8 October 2025. More information is available at autograph.org.uk.
