One to watch #3: Yacouba Gnacko
From Paris to California, Yacouba Gnacko, (@yg.unofficial on IG !), is a multidisciplinary creative whose work moves between observation and imagination. A Franco-Senegalese photographer, director, DP, industrial designer, and engineer, Yacouba brings intention and depth to every frame, blending reality with artistry to create visuals that celebrate identity, culture, and emotion.
We sat down with Yacouba to talk about his background, inspirations, and how being unapologetically Black shapes the core of his work !
SSummary: Who are you and where are you from?
Yacouba: I’m Yacouba Gnacko. I’m from Paris, France, but I currently live in California !
SSummary: Would you like to share your background?
Yacouba: I’m originally from Senegal ! You can probably tell.
SSummary: How would you describe what you do?
Yacouba: I’m a Photographer, director, DP, industrial designer, and engineer !
SSummary: How would you describe your creative work or practice?
Yacouba: I’d describe my creative work as a translation of my experiences and the world around me through my own lens. I like being in the space between documenting and creating. Capturing reality as it is while shaping it into something more intentional and expressive. My work is about blending observation with imagination so that what I make feels both authentic and reinterpreted through my perspective.
SSummary: What themes or messages do you often explore?
Yacouba: The themes I often explore are rooted in being unapologetically Black. That’s the foundation and the throughline, even as I experiment with different forms and ideas. I’m still shaping how I want to frame my work, but I follow what feels real, things I enjoy, things I think are powerful or cool. Underneath all of it is a desire to highlight Black identity, culture, and achievement ! Whether that’s through what I make directly or through the way I live and share my experiences.
SSummary: Who or what inspires you the most?
Yacouba: I’m inspired first and foremost by experiences. A lot of what I do comes from this idea of living “for the plot,” pushing myself into new situations just to see what story comes out of it. I love that one life can hold so many different lives within it; through traveling, learning, or being moved by a film or someone who’s truly great at what they do. Inspiration comes from everywhere, but it hits deeper when it’s tied to Black culture, artistry, and excellence. That’s where I feel the strongest spark
SSummary: Is there a specific project that feels especially “you”?
Yacouba: One project that really feels like “me” is a photoshoot I did of my friend wearing a traditional bazin in an iconic museum in Paris. I love this series because it embodies everything I’ve been talking about: heritage, culture, and the blending of worlds. In these pictures, he doesn’t just stand in the museum, he belongs there. It’s a place of legacy and preservation, and seeing him in that space highlights what we, as children of immigration, represent. There’s so much greatness that comes from that mix rooted in tradition but fully present in contemporary spaces.
Rooted in identity and driven by curiosity, Yacouba Gnacko is creating visuals that live between the past and the future! Where Black culture is not just represented, but reimagined ! We hope you’ll love his work as much as we do here at SSUMMARY, excited for what’s coming !
Interview by Sara GUREWAN
