Gulshan Khan

Gulshan Khan is a photographer interested in topics of memory, identity, transformation, belonging, justice, dignity, and our interconnectedness with the natural world.

A National Geographic Explorer and former stringer for AFP, she was the first African woman to be regularly assigned by the agency. She became the first female South African Canon Ambassador and was also honored as one of the “ Hundred Heroines” in 2019.

Dealing with themes that range from politics and climate change to gender-based violence, culture, and spirituality, Gulshan Khan’s work has been published in international publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Guardian, among others. She teaches various subjects in photographic education and also acts as a consultant on a range of visuals-related projects. 

Her work is part of the Iziko South African National Gallery’s permanent collection and archive, and her exhibitions have reached audiences across the globe.

Khan has been developing a body of work called The Things We Carry With Us, which looks at Muslim communities in Southern Africa, tracing histories of the Indian Ocean slave trade, political exile, resilience, racial segregation, and love. Through these stories of her ancestors, she seeks to create a meaningful addition to the archive, preserving memory and legacy for future generations.


World Press Photo Involvement:
2020 Joop Swart Masterclass participant
6x6 Africa Talent
African Photojournalism Database member

Gulshan Khan on Social Media:
Instagram: @gulshanii