FOUNDATION
Established in 2019, the Daniele Tamagni Grant promotes and sustains artists who explore the African identity and engage with the African continent or its diaspora. The first two editions of the grant awarded 3 scholarships for the enrolment to the Photojournalism and Documentary Photography Program at the Market Photo Workshop school in Johannesburg and a one-year stipend to develop a new body of work. The third edition offered the recipient an extended internship in field training at Aida Muluneh’s Studio in Ivory Cost.
Since 2021, we have been working for the creation of a publicly accessible digital archive which collects all of Daniele Tamagni’s work, both published and unpublished. The archive is an important resource for researchers, writers and curators to browse through the entirety of his collection, and will provide additional information on the artworks, the contexts of their making and the backgrounds of some of its most notable characters.
Finally, in 2024, the large-format monograph “Daniele Tamagni Style Is Life” was published by Kehrer Verlag, curated by Giordano Tamagni and edited by Aida Muluneh and Chiara Bardelli Nonino. The Foundation (ETS) is registered in the National Third Sector Register established by the Italian Ministry of Labor and Social Policies. It is funded by Daniele's family, by those who purchase fine art prints, and by sponsors during exhibitions.
The Foundation (ETS) is registered in the National Third Sector Register established by the Italian Ministry of Labor and Social Policies. It is funded by Daniele's family, by those who purchase fine art prints, and by sponsors during exhibitions.
In 2024, a major retrospective exhibition was organized in Milan at Palazzo Morando, in collaboration with the City Council, featuring around 90 photographs of Daniele's major works, curated by Aida Muluneh and Chiara Bardelli Nonino. In 2025, the exhibition was replicated in Trento at the Galleria Civica, promoted by MART and the City Council and curated by Gabriele Lorenzoni. At the same time, in Dakar, thanks to the support of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, the Italian Cultural Institute organized a double exhibition at the Monod Museum and the Institute's headquarters, both curated by Aida Muluneh with the contribution of the museum's director, Malick Ndiye. The exhibitions were enriched by a series of workshops for Senegalese photographers.
Looking at his personal archives has been an intriguing experience. It gave me an understanding of his commitment to his beliefs and, notably, his devotion to Africa. Often, the world sees only the selected works we present, rarely glimpsing the photographer’s complete thought process. For me, I have gained insight into his encounters, dedication and, most importantly, his vulnerability through this archive. I consistently say that although photographers remain behind the lens, each image reflects not only the subject but also the photographer’s essence. As image creators, we exist within each frame. When capturing a photograph, it’s not us taking it, but rather the person in front of our lens who offers the image. Navigating his visual journey, it’s evident that those he captured trusted Daniele deeply. Even in the fleeting moments of street photography, he established connections without intruding. With every frame of Daniele’s, it’s clear he wasn’t a photographer simply capturing moments detached from the environment or people. He immersed himself in each instant, uniquely positioning himself as a foreign photographer who valued building relationships with his subjects. In the present, his images gaze back at me, evoking wonder about the conversations we might have had and the stories he’d have shared as a cultural outsider... I envision that from his initial journey to Africa until his last, he relentlessly sought to portray a multifaceted Africa. While it’s easy for outsiders to photograph the continent’s challenges, the true challenge lies in portraying its complexities. Daniele undertook a mission to show that Africa is diverse, housing many untold stories. In my perspective, art revolves around conveying our personal truths. He deliberately focused on individuals at society’s heart and life journey edges, those challenging norms, prioritizing self- affirmation over societal endorsement - trailblazers of their unique journeys. To me, he selected narratives closely aligned with his own. I can’t help but contemplate if Daniele lived with a perpetual yearning for places and people that resonated with his sense of belonging. Thus, participating in this project isn’t solely a tribute to Daniele’s memory. It underscores his father, Giordano’s, commitment to sustaining his son’s aspiration of connecting Africa to his homeland. Giordano’s engagement is a testament to his profound dedication, investing substantial time, emotion and money to continue to share his son’s work with the world. His decision to support the education of emerging photographers from Africa reflects the impact of his son’s passion for the continent. This ethos resonates in the Daniele Tamagni Foundation programme. In life, as our time draws to a close, our legacy transcends the physical realm. It’s the transmission of our spirit to the next generation that truly endures. Though Daniele may no longer be with us, his unwavering passion for Africa remains permanently etched in the frames of his archives.
