Photographer, FILMMAKER, Entrepreneur & Social activist
MISAN
Harriman
“The eyes should learn to listen before it looks”
- Robert Frank
Photographer, social activist and Oscar Nominated filmmaker Misan Harriman is one of the most widely-shared visual storytellers of this age. He is also the first black person in the 104 year history of British Vogue to shoot the cover of its September issue. In July 2021 he commenced his appointment as Chair of the Southbank Centre, London.
His strong reportage style and unique eye for narrative has captured the attention of editors and celebrities around the world. From documenting historic moments in history to photographing high profile celebrities, including Meghan Markle & Prince Harry, Angelia Jolie, Jay-Z, Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Giorgio Armani, Rhianna, Cate Blanchett and Olivia Colman, Misan is a photographer of extraordinary range. His striking images have featured in Vanity Fair, Vogue UK, Harpers Bazaar, People Magazine and The Telegraph among others.
His first film, the After starring David Oyelowo is the first Netflix UK original Short and has been nominated for an Academy Award.
Misan has been described as the most talked about photographer of our time by The Evening Standard.
He has auctioned one of the most shared civil rights images in modern history with Sothebys for charity.
Misan is an outspoken activist supporting Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace, he is also a mental health campaigner with a keen interest in Dyslexia and Neurodiversity. He is currently exploring how web3 can help democratise merit based opportunity for disadvantaged artists on a global scale.
He is the founder of Culture3 whose mission is to explain and explore what web 3.0 means for culture, commerce, and society.
Nigeria born, Misan was educated in England where he developed a life-long love for the arts. This led him to picking up a camera and honing his craft. He is completely self-taught, his work is inspired by Gordon Parks, Sally Mann, Eve Arnold, Bruce Davidson, Norman Parkinson and Peter Lindbergh.
In July 2021, he took up the appointment of chair of trustees of the Southbank Centre.
Misan is an Ambassador for Save The Children.
In June 2022, he photographed Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and granddaughter of King Charles III.
In December 2022 he received an honorary fellowship from SOAS University.
In December 2023 he received an honorary Doctorate from Ravensbourne University.
In January 2024 his first film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short.