Marta Azevedo

My name is Marta Azevedo. I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

I spent my childhood and my adolescence going to Madureira, in Rio de Janeiro, almost every weekend to visit my father's family. I grew up surrounded by black culture as Jongo (African dance), Umbanda (afrobrazilian religion) and samba. When I thought about developing a personal project, the theme of blacks came in the first place. I wanted to portray the beauty and the different attitudes and lifestyles of this ethnic group so present in my life.
I started this project in 2003, using natural light and traditional poses in color. I did not like the result, I found it very common.

In 2004, I married an American artist and moved to the United States. I set up a studio in my house and started over my project. I radically changed my style. I started using elements related to black / African culture, such as straw, clay and beads. giving priority to facial expression.. The choice for black and white was due to my passion for monochromatic images and to avoid the distractions of colors.
In February 2013, I moved back to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil


Awards: Black Faces won many prizes in Brazil and in the United States

Publications
Winning Digital Photo Contests Book Lark Books, United States. 2009
Professional Photographer Magazine, February and April issues of 2010
Lens Work magazine - May 2010
- Turkey - September 2010
Photo Magazine - Brazil - April 2011
Sabia Magazine - .br - August 2011
Book Black Faces - 2012
Adore Noir – Canada – 2014
Fotografia Magazine – -USA - 2015
Dekit Magazine – USA – 2015
Fem World View – USA – 2015
Edge of Humanity Magazine – USA - 2015

Exhibition
Black Faces - Complexo da Mare - 2009 - Brazil
Black Faces Latino Culture Center - Dallas, Texas, 2010
Ward-Nass Gallery – New York City – 2012
Spectrum 2014 – Miami - 2014
Olho na Rua - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2016