A Photographer’s Look At The Colorful Vendor Sellers Of Adjamé Market

London-based photographer Eddie Wrey’s latest personal project is a series of anonymous portraits of Ivorian workers at the vibrant Adjamé market, in the west African city of Abidjan.

Wrey was in Abidjan for a commercial project and headed to Adjamé to purchase some supplies. It was there that he became enchanted by the bright color palettes of the marketplace; and in particular the workers—who artfully balance produce, textiles, garments, pottery, and baskets, on their heads. After a few days of exploring the location, Wrey set up a temporary spot for a photoshoot, with an exposed blue wall and taped black backdrop. The photographer decided to capture each worker anonymously. “The decision not to show the subjects’ faces felt intuitive,” he explained in an interview with It’s Nice That. “I wanted the primary focus of the images to be the breadth of produce on offer, whilst also accentuating the sculptural forms. I felt that it also gave a more global portrait of women in the region rather than focusing on individuals.” Ultimately, his ambition was “simply to celebrate the strength and agility of these powerful women”, he continued, “Leaving the focus of the images on their wonderful and varied domestic produce”.

All images © Eddie Wrey