Takenya K. Holness (b. 1998) is a Jamaican-born, London-based visual storyteller whose work sits at the intersection of photography, writing, and cultural preservation. Her practice centres on documenting, preserving, and highlighting narratives from Jamaican heritage and Black British communities, with a particular focus on the nuances of memory, identity, and belonging. Through both lens and language, she explores how objects, spaces, and colours become vessels of cultural memory, shaping and reflecting the identities of those who inhabit them.

Holness’ photographic work is deeply rooted in storytelling. She documents the lived experiences of Caribbean communities in London and beyond, paying homage to everyday moments and overlooked histories. Drawn to the built environment, she examines how we cultivate and preserve cultural identity through space and architecture, asking: How do we reclaim space? How do unfinished structures, inherited objects, and everyday materials become symbols of resilience and longing?

Colour is a central force in her work, its ability to create visceral, transcendent feelings is something she continues to explore. Holness gravitates toward warm, rich palettes that echo the vibrancy of Jamaican landscapes and the intimate familiarity of Black British homes. For her, colour is more than aesthetic, it is emotional, a language that conveys the essence of belonging, heritage, and warmth.

Holness holds a Master’s degree in Contemporary Photography; Philosophies & Practices from Central Saint Martins, where she explored the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of photography as a medium. Her time at CSM allowed her to explore deeply into visual anthropology, postcolonial theory, and critical spatial practice, frameworks that continue to inform her work today.

Her work has been commissioned by notable clients including Fondation Chanel, The British Museum, and The Financial Times, and she continues to build a body of work that contributes to the preservation and celebration of diasporic narratives through both image and text.