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The Portrait Archive
Three decades of practice
One consistent intent.

My work is rooted in the belief that a portrait is not 'taken,' but earned. From the medium format archives of Kono, Sierra Leone, to contemporary studies, the goal is a shared presence—a synergy between subject and lens that has remained the foundation of my practice for thirty-five years.

Freetown, Girl with Red Scarf

The Evolution of the Archive

This archive tracks a trajectory from the historical to the formal. While the medium has shifted from the tactile grain of the millennium to the clarity of the modern era, the intent remains constant: a focus on presence over observation. From the diamond pits of Sierra Leone to the deliberate stillness of the studio, these are collaborative records of a shared moment.

Represented by 

1895 Gallery Cape Town

1895 Gallery

+27604983763

52 Burg St, Cape Town,

South Africa

+447979091442

11 Park Island Way, Marina Da Gama, Cape Town, 7945, South Africa

11 Park Island Way, Marina Da Gama, Cape Town, 7945, South Africa

11 Park Island Way, Marina Da Gama, Cape Town, 7945, South Africa

 

© 2026 Chris Bamber

 

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