Edson Chagas was born in Luanda, Angola.
His work takes an introspective approach that departs from the traditions of photojournalism, examining the socio-cultural contexts of contemporary cities, with a particular focus on consumer culture and identity politics. In his practice, time and space are explored in both their social and poetic dimensions, moving between the concrete and the abstract.
He studied photography at the University of Wales Newport, the London College of Communication, and ETIC.
In 2013, his series Found Not Taken (2008–) was presented at the Angolan Pavilion, Luanda, Encyclopedic City, at the Venice Biennale, which received the Golden Lion for Best National Pavilion. He was nominated for the Novo Banco Photo Prize in 2015, with an exhibition at the Museu Coleção Berardo, and in 2018 received the African Art Award from the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art.