Robert Nzaou-Kissolo, born in 1976 in Nkayi, Republic of the Congo, is a self-taught photographic artist.
He first discovered art in the 1990s through the urban poetry of rap, which became his earliest form of creative expression and freedom.
In 2001, fleeing the violence in his country, he moved to South Africa, where he lived for nearly a decade and earned a degree in Marketing Management. Today, he divides his time between Congo and South Africa—two worlds that continuously inspire his artistic vision.
His encounter with photography came in 2015, after being deeply moved by the works of Robert Doisneau, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Robert Frank.
“I had an absolute love at first sight for this medium—it allowed me to tell stories, to remain a poet, to develop my imagination while grounding it in reality.”
Street photography soon became his chosen language, a way to capture the beauty of everyday life, human emotions, and fleeting moments that define the soul of the streets.
“The desire to tell stories, to share ordinary or unexpected moments, to show the world where I come from, is the foundation of my work and creativity.”
Driven by a passion for sharing and education, Robert led his first photography workshop in 2018. He immediately discovered the joy of teaching and has since trained young people every year who are eager to tell their own African stories through photography.
In this same spirit, he founded the Ponton Photo Festival in 2025, which he now directs—a platform dedicated to celebrating and promoting African photography.
The author of five photography books, Robert Nzaou-Kissolo explores the streets and lives of Congo’s cities with empathy and poetic depth.
His work has been exhibited internationally in Congo, South Africa, Ghana, Zambia, France, Germany, the United States, and beyond, offering a human and authentic vision of contemporary Africa.
Expo Photo solo
Institut Français du Congo, Brazzaville, Février 2023 – Thème : Marché Total.
Aéroport Maya Maya à l’occasion du Sommet des trois bassins forestiers, Brazzaville, Octobre 2023.
Institut Francais du Congo, Pointe Noire, Congo 2022 – 2023 – Thème : Pointe Noire En Couleur
Cercle du Musée Africain, Pointe Noire, Congo 2022 – Thème : Louzolo
Institut Français du Congo, Pointe Noire, Congo 2019 Thème : Me & Ms Lily
Dans les grandes artères de la ville de Pointe Noire en collaboration avec Matombi Productions– Pointe – Noire, Congo 2018. Thème : Madia ya Bwala
Alliance Française du Cap, Afrique du Sud 2018. Thème : Me and Ms Lily
Alliance Française du Cap, Afrique du Sud 2016. Thème : Obsession
Fondation Basango Centre Culturel. Pointe Noire, Congo 2015. Thème : Fond Tié Tié
Expo Photo Collective
• Festival Kokutan'Art / Institut Francais du Congo / Brazzaville 2021, 2022 et 2023
• "Les Afriques Autrement" Novembre 2019 - Galerie Art-Z, 27 rue Keller 75011 Paris
• Rencontre d'Arles 2019 - "L'Afrique vue par elle même" - Galerie La Grande Vitrine, 12 rue Jouvène. 13104 Arles
• "L'envers du décor" Paris 2019 - Galerie Art-Z, 27 rue Keller 75011 Paris
• Lumix Festival for Young photojournalism – Hannover – Germany 2018
• Photoville – New – York - USA 2018
• Nuku Photo Festival, Ghana 2018
• Baardskeerdersbos Art Route, , Afrique du Sud 2018
• Baardskeerdersbos Art Route, Afrique du Sud 2017
• The Perfect Portrait - Orms Cape Town School of Photography, Afrique du Sud 2016
• IPS -FLOWERS OF MY SOUL, Italie 2016
