ARTIST STATEMENT
Cuba Black and White
In 1999 at age 25, American Photographer Anna Mia Davidson, despite the embargo, set out on a personal journey with her camera to capture the isolated Island Nation Cuba through her own eyes. Cuba was just beginning to heal from the “Special Period” after Russia pulled it’s financial support after nearly four decades. It was during this time of transition that Anna Mia Davidson became inspired to know more. A visual journey and testament to the human story. Many visits throughout eight years allowed her to get deeply immersed in Cuban life and understand the complexities of the Island during this long term photographic exploration.
BIOGRAPHY
Anna Mia Davidson is a professional photographer based in Seattle, Washington. She believes strongly in the power of images to influence, inspire, and impact the way we see the world around us.
Davidson has photographed worldwide. She has two published photography books, Human Nature:Sustainable Farming in the Pacific Northwest (Minor Matters Books) and Cuba:Black and White (Steidl). Her photographic work has been awarded several honors including sponsorship by The Blue Earth Alliance for her longterm photographic project on Cuba, the Jeni Dellaccio Award for photography, three International Photo Awards, A FotoDocument Commission, Grants from Artist Trust and Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, The University of Colorado Talent and Creativity Award for Photojournalism, the Cesar Chavez Certificate for Commitment to Justice, Diversity, and Nonviolence from the University of Colorado, and the 2004 Golden Light Top Photographers Award for Documentary photography.
Anna Mia Davidson has exhibited her photographs both Nationally and Internationally at Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York, The Farmani Gallery, Los Angeles, Leica Gallery, New York, Benham Gallery, Seattle, Fototecca Gallery, Havana Cuba, Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, and is part of the Zoelner Art Center’s permanent collection. Anna Mia Davidson was commissioned as a “Character of America” Photographer by Aperture and USA Television Network, and was interviewed about her photography on the Today Show.
When she is not working on her own longterm photographic projects, Anna Mia Davidson works for many different international news and magazine publications and is involved with commissions and large public arts instillations of her work.
MEDIA
- CUBA BLACK AND WHITE made it on Andy Adams/Flak Photos Book List
- Davidson was invited by the State Department and US Emabasy Thailand to present my photography through lectures workshops and a traveling exhibition at major Universities throughout Thailand in February.
- Link to the book layout spread from the Steidl website https://steidl.de/Books/Cuba-Black-and-White-0209242959.html