Yvonne Maxwell is a Saint Lucian-Nigerian self-taught documentary photographer whose work explores issues surrounding migration, collective and individual memory, community and identity. Her work also extends to focus on narratives impacting people from across the global African and Caribbean diasporas and their ancestral ties, cultures, familial relationships, health, sexuality and human rights.
Maxwell uses a range of photographic practices, words and moving image to communicate and visualise critiques on society and state, looking to the past, present and imagined futures to shape these mediums. Maxwell is engaged in a number of ongoing personal projects including HEREDITARY, which explores the nuanced relationship dynamic of mothers and daughters within the Black familial structure.
Maxwell began her artistic exploration in 2020, and is a winner of the 2023 Portrait of Britain Award. Maxwell has worked with The Wellcome Collection, Vittles, The British Library, SUITCASE Magazine, Open City, Level Up, Eater, among others.
Yvonne is based in London, UK and is available for assignments, commissions and collaborations.
PUBLICATIONS
2022 Photography & Essay, Peckham Pride, Issue 38, SUITCASE Magazine
2022 Photography, Home Sauce, Issue 13, Pit Magazine
2022 Photography & Essay, The Arcades, Vittles
2022 Photography & Essay, The Arcades, London Feeds Itself, Open City
2022 Essay, What Does It Mean To Resist?, A Great Increase In Business Is On Its Way, Goldsmiths CCA
2022 Photography, Parks and Politics in Brixton’s past and present, Wellcome Collection
2022 Photography, #NoMoreLyes Campaign, Level Up
2021 Photography & Essay, A Partition That Separates Us From Them, Black Food Folks Present, Resy
2021 Photography, NostalgiaUltra, Issue 1, Chicken + Bread
2021 Essay, Adopted Food - If You Build It, They Will Come, Vittles
2021 Photography, It Travelled with Me, within Me, SOURCED
2021 Essay, Iteration 9: Yvonne Maxwell "cooks" Yemisí Aríbisálà - Ogbono Soup and the power of stories, Vittles
2021 Story Consultant - How 60,000 Metric Tons of Salt Are Harvested From One of the World's Saltiest Lakes, Handmade Series (Docuseries), Eater
2020 Photography, Belly Full - Caribbean food in the UK. 2nd Edition
2020 Photography, Watching You, Issue 003, Plantain Papers
2020 Photography, Community Comfort - Recipes from the Diaspora
2020 Sub Editor, Community Comfort - Recipes from the Diaspora
2020 Essay, A Rose By Any Other Name, Vittles
2019 Photography (Cover), Issue 002 , Plantain Papers
AWARDS / SHORTLISTS
2023 Portrait of Britain Vol. 6, British Journal of Photography (Winner)
2022 Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year 2022 (Shortlist)
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 PRESENTATIONS: A Celebration of Black Art, London, United Kingdom (November 1 - November 5, 2021)
TALKS
2023 Food: Responding to the Global Crisis, London College of Communication, UAL
2023 London Finds Itself, The British Library: Food Season
2022 Vittles Live, The British Library: Food Season