Yasin Osman (b. 1992) is a Toronto-based photographer and visual storyteller who specializes in capturing evocative images of the living world. He has a passion for using his photography to tell impactful stories and has been recognized for his work by The National Geographic.
In 2017, Yasin was invited to take photos in Somalia by a humanitarian organization. During his time in Somalia, Yasin focused on capturing the resilience of those affected by the drought and collaborated with world-renowned artist JR, having his photos pasted onto multiple water trucks all over the country.
One of Yasin's most important initiatives is Shoot For Peace, a photo mentorship program he founded in 2015. The program was created to offer an alternative option for youth in Toronto, who are affected by violence, and to provide them with skills and opportunities in photography. Since its inception, the program has provided over a hundred youth with jobs, cameras, and valuable photography skills, and has been recognized internationally by Buzzfeed, Upworthy, and CNN.
Yasin's work has covered stories for Macleans Magazine and Vice since 2015. He is dedicated to using his photography to shed light on important issues and to tell the stories of the living world in a captivating and impactful way.
Yasin is also a cartoonist that has worked with Readers Digest Canada, The World Bank andThe New Yorker Magazine, where he’s a regular contributor.
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PHOTO EXHIBITIONS
Dreaming in Colour, Union Station, Oak Room (Solo)
Toronto, Canada, 2024
We Live As We Die, Gallery 101 (Group)
Ottawa, Canada, 2022
Us. Here. Now, Union Station (Group)
Toronto, Canada, 2019
Dear Ayeeyo, Black Cultural Archives (Solo)
London, England, 2019
Dear Ayeeyo, Free Word Centre (Solo)
London, England, 2019
Dear Ayeeyo, The Roundhouse (Solo)
London, England, 2019
Dear Ayeeyo, Artscape Youngplace (Solo)
Toronto, Canada, 2018
True North, Free Studio (Solo)
Toronto, Canada, 2018
L’expo Photos de VICE , Musée D'art Contemporain (Group)
Montreal, Canada, 2017
VICE Photo Show, The Costume House (Group)
Toronto, Canada, 2017
Multitudes, Richard F. Brush Art Gallery (Group)
New York, USA, 2017
Contact Photography Festival (Featured Exhibition)
Dear Ayeeyo, Daniel’s Spectrum (Solo)
Toronto, Canada, 2018
Home, The Carlu (Solo)
Toronto, Canada, 2016
The Sawubona Project, Daniels Spectrum (Group)
Toronto, Canada, 2016
The Sawubona Project, District Oven (Group)
Toronto, Canada, 2015
LECTURES & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Photographing While Black, OCAD University
Toronto, Canada, 2023
Youth Talks, Design Exchange
Toronto, Canada, 2019
True North, Luminato Festival
Toronto, Canada, 2019
Somalinimo,Roundhouse
London, England, 2019
Community Photography, SNABPI
Minneapolis, USA, 2019
Xceeding Xpectations, University of Toronto
Toronto, Canada, 2019
Photographing Africa, University of Seattle
Seattle, USA, 2018
Making of Dear Ayeeyo,University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, USA, 2017
SELECTED CLEINTS:
The New Yorker, Maclean’s, Face Magazine, VICE,
Nike, Google, Footlocker, UNICEF, Warner, Indigo, Jordan.