ego ahaiwe sowinski

filmmaker

BIOGRAPHY

Ego Ahaiwe Sowinski is a multidisciplinary mixed-media artist and archivist whose work weaves together photography, videography, community engagement, and cultural preservation. Originally introduced to In Progress in the spring of 2021 during KingDemetrius Pendleton’s up.RISING exhibit, Ego immediately recognized the value of connecting with fellow artists and building relationships within this creative community.

Ego’s artistic practice is deeply rooted in personal storytelling, archival research, and collective history. They are committed to reigniting and expanding their photographic work, combining past and present images with new visual media to create layered, evocative narratives. Their vision includes working with existing photographs and footage while developing new technical skills in both photography and videography to bring these ideas to life.

Beyond their creative practice, Ego has a rich background in community development and youth work. They serve on the advisory boards of YO MAMAS! Housing Cooperative, founded by Amoke Kubat to promote creative and healing-focused initiatives; the Frogtown Neighborhood Association, supporting local empowerment and advocacy; and Not.Nowhere, an artist-worker cooperative dedicated to advancing new media practices through workshops, screenings, and programming.

Ego’s work has been exhibited internationally, including in WARM Guerrillas: Feminist Visions in Minneapolis (2016), Stardate: 02.20.2017, Controlled Burn at Patrick's Cabaret, Minneapolis (2017), Dunkle Energie: Feminist Organising, Working Collectively at the Vienna Fine Arts Academy (2019), Mercator: Distortions and Projections in Discovery at University of the Arts London (2019), and a brief survey (co-curated with Aida Wilde) at the Truman Brewery, London (2021).

Currently, Ego serves as the archivist for the Rita Keegan Archive Project and recently co-edited Mirrors Reflecting Darkly: The Rita Keegan Archive (Goldsmiths Press, 2021), a landmark publication documenting the life and work of the renowned artist and cultural historian. Ego looks forward to deepening their relationship with the In Progress community through events, exhibitions, mentorship, and training opportunities that will continue to develop their artistic practice.

Qualifications

Ego Ahaiwe Sowinski is an experienced mixed-media artist and archivist skilled in professional DSLR operation, darkroom photography, and basic lighting setup. They bring a nuanced understanding of visual storytelling that spans photography, videography, and archival research, allowing them to create layered, historically grounded works.

Their qualifications include international exhibition experience and curatorial practice, demonstrating strong project management and collaborative skills. Ego is also an accomplished community organizer with extensive experience on advisory boards supporting creative, healing-centered, and community-driven initiatives. As an archivist and editor, they bring scholarly rigor and cultural sensitivity to preserving and sharing the stories of underrepresented artists and communities.

Skills

• Professional DSLR operation

• Darkroom photography

• Basic lighting set up and operation

Links

 email: instantvintage74@gmail.com