Since receiving his first commission from Nike aged 18, British Nigerian photographer Gabriel Moses has worked with everyone from Vogue and Louis Vuitton to Pharrell Williams and A$AP Rocky.
His debut monograph Regina is a testament to his 2023 exhibition displayed at London’s 180 Studios – a reflective collection paying tribute to the women in his life. Designed by art director Hassan Rahim and featuring previously unpublished work, Regina pays homage to Moses’s bold style as the person behind the camera. “There’s a lot I wanted to say in this book,” says Moses. “From showing the world that a Black boy from South London can achieve these things, to displaying what I see as beautiful and championing my community... I wanted to display the world of Gabriel Moses, and to me, it’s deeper than just photographs.”
The monograph, featuring conversations with rapper Skepta and photographer Nick Knight, explores the technical and philosophical aspects of Moses’s work and discusses his influences: “My culture plays a huge part,” says Moses. “My mum would show me a lot of old family photos, and I loved many of the details of those images. I bring much of my identity to my work, and my surroundings shaped that.”
The women in his life played a massive role in shaping who he is as a person as well as a photographer, inspiring the title Regina. “It means queen in Latin, while still sounding like the name of a woman. It was my way of expressing gratitude to the women who shaped the way I see the world,” says Moses. “My grandmother, mum, sister, my nieces – they all shaped my approach and my values. Despite going outside and seeing or being around things that weren’t necessarily good for me, they always allowed me to see life in pink.”
At the core of Moses’s work lies his affinity for people, and he wants his readers to understand that. “I want my work to connect with human beings,” says Moses. “So now and in years to come, I want people to pick this book up and feel something, whatever that may be.”
Moses remains steadfast in his commitment to staying grounded for the future. “God willing, I will just continue to enjoy what I do and never lose sight of why I started. Where that takes me, time will tell.”
Regina by Gabriele Moses, published by Prestel, is out now.
