Allan deSouza, a Kenyan-born American artist, has established a significant presence in the realm of multimedia art, with a focus on photography, text, installations, and performances. His works critically engage with colonial legacies, employing strategies such as humor, fiction, re-inscription, and (mis)translation to challenge and reinterpret historical narratives. One of his notable projects, "Through the Black Country," creatively revisits Henry Stanley's 1870s East African expedition journals, setting them against the backdrop of England during the 2016 Brexit vote, to explore themes of migration and displacement​​​​.

DeSouza's art often examines the complex relationship between the individual body and larger ideological and historical forces, using materials from his body and daily life to comment on how bodies and social spaces are marked by history, geography, and culture. His exhibitions and performances are known for their deep engagement with issues of identity, culture, and the impacts of colonialism, showcasing his unique visual language that transcends clichés to open new perspectives on seemingly mundane situations or regions​​.

His contributions to the art world extend beyond his creative works; deSouza has been an influential figure in art education, serving as the chair of the Department of Art Practice at the University of California, Berkeley, and publishing books such as "How Art Can Be Thought," which examines the possibilities of decolonizing art pedagogy and critique. This work provides an analytical glossary of terms commonly used in art discussions, aiming to adapt these terms to meet new artistic and social challenges​​.