Women Photographers––Shared Documentary Narratives

Featured Artists: Maggie Steber, Elisa Benedetti, Silvia Lizama, RemiJin Camping, Peggy Levison Nolan, and Sofia Valiente
Curated by Aldeide Delgado

“Women Photographers––Shared Documentary Narratives” presents the influential roles of three prominent South Florida women photographers—Maggie Steber, Silvia Lizama, and Peggy Nolan—as artists but also as professors and mentors. The exhibition highlights their profound impact on the photographic landscape and underscores the intricate personal, aesthetic, and conceptual connections between these master photographers and their mentees: Elisa Benedetti, RemiJin Camping, and Sofia Valiente, respectively.

Presented alongside the 2024 WOPHA Congress, which emphasizes women, photography, and pedagogies, “Women Photographers––Shared Documentary Narratives” is part of a broader initiative to develop a curriculum that celebrates the contributions of women to Miami’s photographic history. The exhibit offers a unique perspective on crucial themes related to South Florida, showcasing artwork from the 1980s to the present that moves beyond common tropes of Miami’s collective imaginary. It delves into a more reflective, subjective, and at times, poetic documentation of the region’s dynamic sociocultural landscape.

“Women Photographers––Shared Documentary Narratives” seeks to challenge traditional notions of documentary photography by adopting a participatory approach, inviting viewers to engage with the artwork and providing tools to interpret Miami’s multifaceted identity on their own terms. The exhibition showcases the artistic achievements of these six women photographers while serving as a platform for dialogue and learning. It emphasizes the importance of mentorship and the transmission of knowledge and skills across generations. By centering on contemporary women photographers, it empowers and amplifies their voices, asserting their significant role in the history of Miami photography from a documentary lens.