Ana Paganini (Lisbon, 1995) started taking photographs at a young age, in honor of her father who was a documentary photographer. All of her work is a tribute to the past, by documenting life’s transience and the traces we leave behind. Ana considers herself an emotional documentarian.

From 2014 to 2018 Ana studied Documentary Filmmaking at the London College of Communication (University of the Arts London) and then went on to work as a set photographer for both theater companies and film productions. 

Ana’s documentary projects focus mainly on the themes of personal and collective memory, identity, and cultural traditions. Ana’s project Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet, was shortlisted for the Best Photography Project of 2022 by the Sociedade Portuguesa de Autores.

Ana’s work extends from photojournalism to fashion. Her clientele includes M Le Magazine du Monde, ZEIT, The British Journal of Photography, Le Monde Diplomatique, Marie Claire France, Hermès, Fenwick, Soho House, Pfizer, The Nature Journal, and Hallmark Media, among others.

Ana collaborates with a range of cultural institutions such as The Aga Khan Foundation, The Casa de Mateus Foundation, The Brotéria Cultural Center, The Ajuda National Palace, Melides Art, The Nadir Afonso Foundation, The Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT), The Foundation of Fronteira and Alorna and The Goethe-Institut.

Ana is a member of Women Photograph since 2022.

In 2023 she was shortlisted for the Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize that resulted in a group show at The National Portrait Gallery. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in the UK, Germany, and Portugal.

- Público interview, April 2024

- It’s Nice That Interview, February 2023

-Tearsheets

-Cv

Solo Exhibitions

• Lx Lapa - Lisbon, 2022

• Espaço Cultural Merces - Lisbon, 2021

• Centro Cultural de Safara - Safara, 2019

• The Portuguese Love Affair - London, 2017

• Espaço Cultural Deleme - Lisbon, 2016

• Vent Gallery - London, 2016

• Rua da Emenda - Lisbon, 2013

• Fundação da Casa de Mateus - Vila Real, 2007

Awards and Acknowledgments

• Nominated for LOBA - Leica Oskar Barnack Award - 2024

• Shortlisted for The Royal Photographic Society International Photography Exhibition 166 - 2024

• Shortlisted for Emergentes 2024 - International Photography Award Encontros da Imagem

• 1st Place - People’s Pick at the Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Award - 2024

• Shortlisted for the Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Award - 2023

• Shortlisted for Best Photography Project of 2022 - Sociedade Portuguesa de Autores

• Shortlisted for Top 5 Best Photographers of 2020 - Clube de Criativos Portugal

• Honourable Mention by Emma Lewis, Curator at Tate Modern - 2019

Talks

• Livraria Linha de Sombra, Cinemateca Portuguesa - 2024

• Atelier de Lisboa - 2024

• Casa dos Cubos - Centro de Estudos em Fotografia de Tomar - 2024

• Mostra de Fotografia de Arroios - Projeção Emergentes - Lisboa, 2023

• Friends in the Arts - Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation - Lisbon, 2022

• As Mulheres Não Existem - RTP - (Radio), 2021

• St Julian’s School - Carcavelos, 2021

Book Launches

• A Panificadora de Vila Real de Nadir Afonso - Vila Real, 2022

• AND - Annual 2022 - THEN THERE WAS US - Manchester, 2022

• Velharias Morais - Lisbon PhotoBook Fair - Lisbon, 2021

• Velharias Morais - Espaço Cultural Merces - Lisbon, 2021

• AND - Annual 2019 - THEN THERE WAS US - Manchester, 2019

• Janis e o Mar - Jardim Botânico de Lisboa - Lisbon, 2019

• Janis e o Mar - Casa da Cultura Comporta - Comporta, 2019