Assane sy

Assane Sy is a Brooklyn-based photographer from Northern Senegal whose work explores the evolving relationship between tradition, culture, and self. Drawing from a blend of local heritage and global visual references, his photography reflects a deep interest in how communities navigate identity and authorship across space and time. Working primarily through the lenses of Portraiture, Fashion, and Fine Art, Assane creates images that challenge exclusionary frameworks within contemporary art, offering instead a visual language grounded in care, complexity, and presence. He is an alumnus of the International Center of Photography, the NYFA Immigrant Artist Program, and ArtsConnection. His work has been exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum, the New York Lives Art Gallery, the Africa Center, ICP, Photoville, and Soho Photo Gallery, among others. Through his practice, Assane contributes to an emerging generation of artists reshaping discourses around representation, cultural memory, and what it means to belong, both locally and globally.

Assane is digitizing Katsu Naito’s Harlem project from the 1980’s and 90’s.

assanesy.art

This program is possible thanks to the vision and support of Fujifilm.
Our Digitization System was made possible by a 2024 Capital Grant by New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.