Midwest Chapter ConferenceSpeakers

Vlademir Rodrigues

Friday, October 10, 2025 @ 2:00pm, College for Creative Studies

Photography to challenge the negative narrative of Africa

Vlademir (Vadu) Rodrigues is an MFA candidate at MSU and a social activist from Praia, Cabo Verde, with more than 10 years of experience as a photographer. Among his achievements are the prestigious Varg-Sullivan Graduate Award, the highly competitive Mandela Washington Fellowship, and the Alumni Award by the University of Madeira in Portugal. He has been invited by the former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for the African and Diaspora Young Leaders Forum, collaborated with the Cape Verde Olympic Committee on an exhibition in France to promote the country for the Paris Olympic Games, and was commissioned by the European Union Delegation to create an installation as a gift to the government of Cape Verde. Through his ongoing project Movement #PositiveAfrica, he hopes to use his artwork to create a positive impact on the world and reach out to people who want to help build a more inclusive society.