Iko-Ọjọ Mercy Haruna is a visual artist and documentary photographer dedicated to capturing the fleeting moments of family life and stories that dive deeper into the realities and complexities of motherhood.

Her latest project, Offspring aims to create space for Black mothers in the UK to share their stories related to the physical and psychological changes that come with the transition into motherhood.

Alongside her photographic practice, she’s a parenting writer and podcaster and has worked on a number of projects including co-hosting BBC World Service’s Parentland - an evidence-based podcast that investigates parenting questions through the lens of scientific research and global cultural practices. She currently co-hosts ‘Photo Mama Podcast: Conversations on all things Motherhood, Photography and Life’ with Elsie Kibue-Ngare.

Iko-Ọjọ Mercy was born and raised in Nigeria, spent her teens in France and moved to the UK to pursue a BA in Visual Communication and MA in Photography.

For all enquiries, please email imharuna@outlook.com.

Portrait by Saskia Albers

RECENT FEATURES

Women Express the Joys and Frustrations of Motherhood in Photos

Black Joy Through Food: The Vegan Nigerian - Sweet July

Offspring: Motherhood Stories from the Perspective of Black Mothers in the UK

Black Women Photographers - Photo Vogue Festival 2021

16 Questions About One Photo - Flickr

A Tribute To My Mother - MyPhoto

Black Women Photographers On The Theme of “Home” - The Guardian

100 Visions of Fatherhood - The Luupe

Discussing Photography with The BlkGaze

6 Photographers On What Motherhood Means to Them - BuzzfeedNews

Black Motherhood Gallery - Meta for Creators

100 Visions of Motherhood - The Luupe

Interview for 30 Day Photo Project by EK13 Photography

“This is Home” on For The Love Of The Photograph

EXHIBITIONS

2022 - Black Women Photographers Exhibition - BBC Embrace

2022 - ‘Moments in Time’ - Creative Health Camden (formerly Free Space Project)

2022 - Portrait of Britain x JC Decaux

2021 - ‘Ife Nkili’ Black Women’s Arts Festival

2021 - Beauty and Power in the Everyday, Up & Culture Club, BBH London

2021 - UKBFTOG Showcase at The Photography Show

2021 - Summer Exhibition, The Halpern Gallery Chatham

2021 - Transforming Perspectives Exhibition, Documentary Family Photographers

2014 - MA Degree Show, UCA Canterbury

2012 - D&AD New Blood

2012 - My Playground: Visual Communication Degree Show, AIU London

AWARDS/GRANTS

2021 - Portrait of Britain - Winner

2021 - SmugMug/Flickr x BWP Grant - Finalist

2021 - Grand Plan Fund

2021 - Flickr World Photography Day Contest - ‘People’ Category Winner

2020 - Documentary Family Awards - Finalist

2018 - 12th Julia Margaret Cameron Award - Honourable Mentions

PUBLICATIONS

Eye Mama: Poetic Truths of Home and Motherhood

Top Tips for Black and White Portrait Photography - Amateur Photographer Magazine

Portrait of Britain Volume 4 - Hoxton Mini Press

“This is Home” - Summer 2021 Issue, Click Magazine

Black and White Family Documentary - Amateur Photographer Magazine

This Detailed Life Magazine - Autumn/Winter Issue 2020

TALKS/PODCASTS

Photo Mama Podcast

Artist Talk - ‘Moments in Time’ - Free Space Project

Artist Talk - Photo Fringe

Redeye Friday Live

The Creative Frame Podcast

BBC World Service ‘Parentland’ Podcast

MEMBERSHIPS

Black Women Photographers

Women Photograph

UK Black Female Photographers (UKBFTOG)

EDUCATION

2014 - MA Photography - University for the Creative Arts

2012 - BFA/BA (Hons) Visual Communication - American InterContinental University/London South Bank University