Kara Mshinda
Mixed Media, Collage, Photography
Studio 3
Kara Mshinda is a Philadelphia-area artist whose work explores identity, memory, and the stories we carry.
Using photography, collage, and mixed media, she creates layered pieces that feel both personal and universal.
Her practice centers on photo-weaving, a process that physically weaves printed photographs together to form new images and deeper connections. Through this work, Kara reimagines how stories are told, blending past and present into something new.
Her series In Her Own Image celebrates influential women through Polaroid portraits, honoring figures like Josephine Baker, Audre Lorde, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Byllye Avery. In her solo exhibition Alter/Altar at Cherry Street Pier, she explored how photography can be transformed through drawing, collage, and experimental techniques to tell new stories about identity and freedom.
As a teaching artist with GrioXArts, Kara leads hands-on workshops in photo-weaving, instant photography, and journaling. Her goal is to make art accessible, welcoming people of all backgrounds to explore creativity and tell their own stories.
Peek inside Kara Mshinda’s studio.
Visit Artist Website