Tony Figueira (1959 – 2017) was born in Huambo, Angola, and moved to Windhoek, Namibia, with his family at the age of seven. His passion for photography began at 16, after picking up a friend’s camera, an experience that ignited a lifelong pursuit of the medium. Figueira later studied journalism at Rhodes University, graduating in 1984, where he continued to explore his interests in photography and writing. In 1989, he held his first solo exhibition, ‘Minha Terra’, at the National Art Gallery of Namibia.

Figueira was renowned for founding Studio 77, a photographic studio he established in 2004 with his friend and colleague Hans Rack. The studio operated in Windhoek until 2015 and then in Swakopmund until 2017. His photographic career earned him numerous awards and recognition, with his work offering a deep exploration of the human experience, the pre- and post-independence struggle for freedom and justice in Namibia and her neighbouring countries, as well as the breathtaking beauty of the Namibian landscape and wildlife.

Figueira’s exhibitions traveled extensively, from Windhoek to Swakopmund, Grahamstown, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Lubango, Lisbon, Norway, and Denmark. His work was featured in the group exhibition ‘We Will Be Free’, first opened at Classic Framers in Makhanda, South Africa, before traveling to Namibia (2023). His photographs were also part of the online exhibition ‘Flashback‘ (2020) and the group exhibition ‘Look-see‘ at StArt Art Gallery in 2018.

Collections: National Art Gallery of Namibia, Collection of the government of the Republic of Namibia, Independence Memorial Museum (Namibia), Private Collections: Namibia, South Africa, UK, Germany, USA, France, Sweden