Deana Lawson

By: Lori Sierra

Background
● Deana Lawson is a photo-based artist she was born in 1979 in Rochester, NY.
● She received her M.F.A. in Photography from Rhode Island School of Design in 2004.
● Her work examines the body’s ability to channel personal and social histories, addressing themes of
familial legacy, community, romance, and religious spiritual aesthetics.
● Lawson meets her subjects usually in public places such as :grocery stores, subway trains, Brooklyn, and road trips
she has taken.
Inspiration
● Lawson was shocked by the lack of photographers of color and was inspired by artists such as Lorna simpson.

“Just to have that model--to realize that not only did I like to make pictures but that I could actually do
this, you know, was absolutely important to reaffirm myself as an artist".

● She allows her subjects to become part of the process and taking their input as she creates her images, despite
most subjects starting out as strangers Lawson enjoys creating relationships with them as it helps to further
develop her work and what she strives to capture.
● WIthin her images she likes to capture themes such as Violence, family, sexuality and social status.
Work
● Her work has been displayed in exhibitions such as:
● The whitney museum of American art, MOMA, Art institute of chicago and
Brooklyn museum of Art.
● Lawson has taught at schools such as :
● Princeton since 2012, California institute of the arts, and Rhode Island School of
Design.
Mother Tongue 2014
Centropy 2020
Sources
https://www.sikkemajenkinsco.com/deana-lawson

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deana_Lawson

https://www.rhoffmangallery.com/exhibitions/deana-lawson2?view=slider#3

https://www.mutualart.com/Exhibition/Deana-Lawson--Centropy/AA68CC715DCD4
DBF

https://www.anothermag.com/art-photography/12581/deana-lawson-centropy-kunst
halle-basel-exhibition-photography-new-york