How Romain Mayambi is utilizing pictures to form Cincinnati’s creative future

CINCINNATI — When Romain Mayambi moved to Cincinnati from Zimbabwe, the tradition shock hit immediately. 

He didn’t perceive his classmates’ sarcasm or their film references.

Or the distinction within the worth of neighborhood. 

In the nations the place he grew up – the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe — neighbors had been like an extension of household. And whereas Mayambi nonetheless felt that in Cincinnati, it wasn’t fairly the identical. 

“Back home … everybody knows everybody. If you ever needed anything, you’d just go to your neighbors,” Mayambi stated. 

Years later, his want to construct neighborhood in Cincinnati would end in a life-changing 2024 exhibition referred to as “Heritage,” that includes Mayambi’s pictures and his brother’s work.

“(People at the exhibition) start having conversations. It allows that community aspect to happen,” Mayambi stated.

One picture from “Heritage” caught the attention of an editor at National Geographic. “Shepard” later appeared within the journal’s May 2025 concern.

Romain Mayambi

But lengthy earlier than one among his largest goals got here true, Mayambi’s imaginative and prescient for his artwork and this metropolis had already taken off.

Moving to the Queen City

Moving between nations taught Mayambi adaptability.

“It’s almost like survival in a way. Whenever you’re in a new environment, you want to learn things as quick as possible,” Mayambi stated.

His father traveled typically, working for the Red Cross, leaving Mayambi and his 4 siblings to spend most of their time with their mom, whom he described as giving, pushed and devoted to serving to others.

Romain Mayambi

When Mayambi was 14 years previous, his father moved their household to Cincinnati — a metropolis advisable by a good friend who described it as the proper place to boost a household.

Mayambi enrolled at Aiken High School nearly instantly after arriving at his new dwelling in College Hill.

“I honestly wasn’t for the idea of (starting school right away). But I’m glad we did because it got us integrated as soon as possible,” Mayambi stated.

Mayambi picked up a digital camera for the primary time at an Aiken after-school program that launched college students to artwork.

As a part of this system, Mayambi went downtown with a information to attempt pictures. But the digital camera didn’t spark something simply but.

“There was no feeling towards photography. I just thought, ‘Well, cool,'” Mayambi stated.

‘Leap of religion’

As a freshman on the University of Cincinnati, Mayambi’s curiosity in trend impressed him to revisit pictures. He would often spend time the place trend college students had courses and ask to take photos of individuals’s outfits to put up on Instagram.

Still, Mayambi stayed on the monitor he had deliberate. He graduated with a level in finance and began working whereas freelancing on the facet, generally sneaking away from his desk to put up his newest work on Instagram.

“I was in the (corporate) world, and I got to see how it was. I didn’t see myself doing it for a long time,” Mayambi stated.

He was nonetheless working as a danger analyst when he started taking pictures his “Athletes in Unconventional Spaces” collection that catapulted him into social media fame in 2023.

Romain Mayambi

But Mayambi observed his finance profession was preserving him from pursuing extra creative alternatives. So he decided nobody near him had tried earlier than.

He stop his job.

“I’m glad I did that because it’s always good to push yourself to do things that feel uncomfortable,” Mayambi stated. “I wouldn’t want to regret not doing it years later.”

Leaving the normal company world allowed Mayambi to chase initiatives he wouldn’t have been capable of accomplish with a inflexible schedule.

Along along with his skill to adapt, Mayambi stated his risk-taker angle, mixed with the analytical facet of his mind, units him aside as a inventive.

“Growing up we didn’t have a lot. I grew up with barely anything. So I think having opportunities come along – I really jump on (them),” Mayambi stated.

The photographer’s latest collection, “Through the Frame,” is the newest portrayal of his outside-the-box fashion.

Romain Mayambi

Retaining Cincinnati creatives

One of Mayambi’s most important objectives is to assist retain Cincinnati’s artists.

He is aware of many native creatives who’ve chosen to maneuver away to search out alternatives that they didn’t imagine existed in Cincinnati.

“I just took it on myself to be an advocate,” Mayambi stated. “If we hold on to a lot more talent, the art is gonna revolutionize the city.”

As his social media following grew and extra folks found his work, Mayambi stated one message particularly saved displaying up in his inbox: “Why are you in Cincinnati?”

“People ask me, ‘Why are you still here?’ But that’s the whole thing,” Mayambi stated. “Why don’t we just be the ones who create opportunity here, because if not us, then who is going to do it?”

Romain Mayambi

Staying in Cincinnati is a method for the 28-year-old to achieve his objectives, rooted in the identical sense of neighborhood he grew up with.

He shared concepts for serving to younger Cincinnatians launch their creative careers, like bringing on an intern or internet hosting a category for folks occupied with totally different artwork types.

“That’s kind of my way to be able to give back and continue to create and grow something that will allow more students to work with us and gain experience, and keep them in the city,” Mayambi stated.

Mayambi stated he’s been capable of finding initiatives that aren’t essentially positioned in Cincinnati, too, together with a photoshoot for Tabasco.

“These things are doable, we can bring more opportunities to the city without trying to leave, it’s just showing you’re able to do it, and you’re capable of doing it here,” Mayambi stated.

Support for Black artists

Mayambi has showcased his work by means of two exhibitions along with his youthful brother, Gift.

Before the 2024 “Heritage” exhibition, which secured his spot in National Geographic, got here “Against the Grain” in 2023.

The theme was impressed by his personal journey.

“‘Against the Grain’ was really pushing back against the societal norms of ‘Here are the steps you have to do.’ No, I want to create my own steps, I want to make my own way,” Mayambi stated.

To make it occur, Mayambi and his crew referred to as venues throughout town earlier than discovering one prepared to host the present in trade for ticket-sale earnings.

One of these tickets belonged to Mayor Aftab Pureval, who was invited by the crew.

“We’re very unapologetic when it comes to if we want to get something done,” Mayambi stated. “We dream big.”

In an Instagram put up, Mayambi thanked Pureval for his attendance and for supporting Black artists.

Provided

Support for native Black artists turned central within the creation of RedBoxCtudios, Mayambi’s photograph and video manufacturing firm, which launched in July 2024.

Provided

Mayambi stated he had labored with different manufacturing corporations in Cincinnati, which had been largely white-owned.

“Black artists also need to be in the forefront to be able to encourage and inspire younger people who look like us,” Mayambi stated.

Social media fame

As he continued posting his work and showcasing totally different collection, Mayambi noticed spikes in his social media following.

He noticed hate feedback on his posts early on, earlier than the temper switched to largely supportive.

“It didn’t really affect me at all,” Mayambi stated. “I’m not looking at it as a personal attack.”

Now, with practically 200,000 followers throughout platforms, Mayambi stated he feels a degree of strain and duty to be a job mannequin.

“Your next client is watching your story,” he stated.

Even with that strain, Mayambi does not let his following dictate his artwork. He stated he stays targeted on creating the artwork he needs to see.

Mayambi’s social media presence has additionally motivated different artists. He’s acquired feedback from creatives saying he impressed them to choose up a digital camera, and has even seen folks recreating his work.

Romain Mayambi

“The goal has always been to create a community and a space where we get to share ideas, put out work. And it’s crazy. I never thought I would be at this point,” Mayambi stated.

Though Mayambi himself has been acknowledged with a number of honors, together with a point out within the Cincinnati concern of Forbes 30 underneath 30, he remained adamant that there’s no scarcity of creative expertise within the Queen City.

“There’s other people just like me who are doing the things I’m doing in this city who are not getting seen … we’re all kind of in the shadows,” Mayambi stated.

That’s why he stays dedicated to utilizing his platform and firm to assist others, like he was taught to do by his mom rising up.

“When I started photography … I felt alone in a way because I didn’t know who to reach out to or pull inspiration from in the city,” Mayambi stated. “I want to be that person in somebody else’s journey.”

Who do you need to see featured subsequent? Contact grace.erwin@wcpo.com.