Born in 1976 in Nkayi, Republic of the Congo, Robert Nzaou-Kissolo is a self-taught photographic artist. He first discovered art in the 1990s through the urban poetry of rap, which became his earliest space of expression and freedom.

In 2001, fleeing violence in his home country, he went into exile in South Africa, where he lived for nearly a decade and earned a degree in Marketing Management. Today, he divides his time between the Congo and South Africa—two lands that continually shape his vision and inspiration.

His encounter with photography came in 2015, after being profoundly moved by the works of Robert Doisneau, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Robert Frank.

“I fell instantly in love with this medium—it allowed me to tell stories while remaining a poet, to expand my imagination while grounding it in reality.”

Street photography soon became his preferred form of expression—a space where he captures the beauty of everyday life, simple emotions, and fleeting moments shared with people he meets.

“The desire to tell stories, to share ordinary or unusual moments, to show the world where I come from—this is the foundation of my work and creativity.”

Driven by a passion for sharing and transmission, he led his first photography workshop in 2020. Since then, he has trained young enthusiasts eager to tell their own stories of Africa through images. Continuing in this spirit, he founded Ponton Photo Festival in 2025, which he now directs—an open platform for encounters and the celebration of African photography.

Author of five photography books, Robert Nzaou-Kissolo explores, with deep sensitivity, the streets and faces of the Congo—revealing his country through a poetic and human light. His work has been exhibited around the world, including in the Congo, South Africa, Ghana, Zambia, France, Germany, the United States, and many other places that echo with his singular vision of reality.