Mary Gelman is a queer photographer, visual storyteller, and producer; born in Russia, she is represented internationally by VII Photo Agency.
After getting a degree in sociology, she was involved in photography. She often explores themes of identity and trauma, vulnerability and resilience, and seeks to challenge stereotypes and prejudices. She also focuses on life and the ideology of alternative communities and different social groups facing discrimination. The most important part of her practice is diving deeper into the topics and interactions with people, where empathy, trust, and understanding are significant.
Mary has been a winner of different competitions. She's the recipient of the World Press Photo, Leica Oskar Barnack Award, Pictures of the Year, Istanbul Photo Awards, and so on. She was published in The Time, The Washington Post, Le Monde, Die Zeit, The New York Times, UNICEF, and many others.
