Published by Aperture in 2018, this eponymous monograph is the first major publication dedicated to Deana Lawson, a visionary artist redefining contemporary portraiture. Lawson’s photographs are staged yet deeply intimate portrayals of Black life across the African Diaspora, from New York to Ethiopia. By blending the raw energy of vernacular snapshots with the formal complexity of historical painting, she constructs a visual language of “Black sovereignty” and grace. The book explores themes of family, sexuality, and the sacred nature of the body in domestic spaces. Featuring an evocative essay by Zadie Smith, the volume highlights Lawson’s unique ability to capture her subjects with a profound sense of self-possession and dignity, making it a cornerstone of 21st-century photographic practice.
