The Best Photo Stories of 2024: Women-Led Projects
From an exhibition examining the interplay of text and image in writer Annie Ernaux’s work to Carmen Winant’s emotional document of abortion care, here are the best photo projects featured on AnOther this year
The essence of powerful photography lies in its ability to create a dialogue between artist, subject, and viewer – one that delves into how the world is shaped and perceived. Through visual expression, photography fosters a deeper understanding of identity, emotion, and the world around us. In 2024, a diverse range of women-led photography projects have emerged, offering fresh perspectives that celebrate both the strength and vulnerability of women’s stories and shared experiences.
From Joy Gregory’s reclamation of Black-British identity in the 1980s and 90s, to Carmen Winant’s layered portrayal of abortion care, these projects illuminate the multiplicities of womanhood. Brianna Capozzi’s playful surrealism celebrates sisterhood, while Maggie Shannon’s raw documentation of home births honours the extreme spectrums of life-giving moments. Each series underscores how women behind the lens are using photography as a medium for connection and discussion across the cultural landscape.
Below, read more about ten of the best women-led photo projects featured on AnOther in 2024.
In Shining Lights, Joy Gregory curates a compelling visual archive of Black-British womanhood during the 80s and 90s. This landmark series celebrates photographers who captured identity, heritage and community amidst systemic marginalisation. Featuring portraits, still lifes, and documentary-style images, Gregory’s project is a testament to the resilience and creativity of Black women, offering an overdue spotlight on their contribution to the cultural fabric of Britain.
This collaboration between Nobel laureate Annie Ernaux, curator Lou Stoppard and the Maison Européenne de la Photographie examines the interplay of text and image. Drawing from Ernaux’s observational writing, Exteriors pairs everyday street scenes with her incisive reflections on gender, class, and society. The resulting curation is a poetic meditation on how women experience public and private spaces in contemporary life.
Melissa Shook’s pioneering series of daily self-portraits, spanning decades, is a profound study of time, selfhood, and routine. Presented in a new exhibition and accompanying book, these candid, minimalist images capture the artist’s evolving identity, offering a window into the intimacies of ageing, solitude and creativity. Shook’s work continues to inspire generations of women redefining self-representation.
In This Train, Justine Kurland revisits the landscapes of her iconic Girl Pictures series, reflecting on freedom, rebellion, and kinship. Her images of young women navigating the thresholds of adolescence evoke a sense of utopian yearning. With her new work, Kurland interweaves nostalgia with a reckoning of the cultural forces shaping girlhood in America.
Through a powerful combination of photographs, archival materials, and text, Carmen Winant’s The Last Safe Abortion documents the emotional and physical realities of abortion care. Her layered, collage-like compositions highlight the solidarity and strength of women and healthcare providers in this contested space. Winant’s project is an urgent call for compassion and autonomy in reproductive rights.
Mengyu Zhou’s The Filial Daughter offers an intimate portrait of Chinese womanhood, exploring generational expectations and personal aspirations. Zhou’s images, rich in symbolism and quiet beauty, navigate the tensions between tradition and self-determination. Her work resonates universally, shedding light on the complex intersections of family, culture and gender.
Maggie Shannon’s Extreme Pain / Extreme Joy chronicles the visceral realities of home births. Her intimate images, steeped in raw emotion, honour the courage and vulnerability of women bringing new life into the world. Shannon’s series celebrates the transformative power of birth while confronting the societal invisibility of this labour.
In her book Sisters, Brianna Capozzi fuses surrealism and intimacy to celebrate the bonds between women. Her photographs, often playful and subversive, explore themes of identity, connection and shared experience. Capozzi’s vibrant compositions underscore the strength and beauty of sisterhood, both literal and metaphorical.
In Where the Flowers Bloom, Ana Flores captures the vibrant traditions of Andean Indigenous culture. Her photographs blend documentary realism with poetic reverence, celebrating the resilience of women who sustain their communities and heritage. Flores’ work is a love letter to her roots and a vital preservation of cultural memory.
Sirui Ma’s Little Things Mean a Lot transforms everyday moments into poignant narratives. Her delicate, detail-oriented approach reveals the quiet power of domestic life, offering an ode to the small gestures that shape relationships and memory. Ma’s work invites us to slow down and find meaning in the seemingly mundane.
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