Mary Richardson

photography / curatorial

Mary Richardson is a documentary photographer based in the Twin Cities whose work is grounded in a deep commitment to social justice and community storytelling. Of Native and Caucasian heritage, a lesbian, and a woman working in the tech industry, Mary brings an intersectional perspective to all of her creative and professional pursuits. Her path into serious photography began with a powerful realization: that images could educate, challenge assumptions, and illuminate the urgent issues at the heart of the Black Lives Matter movement. Through her camera, she found a way to bear witness and spark necessary conversations about racial justice.

Mary is an active member of The Million Artist Movement, a collective of artists and activists dedicated to Black liberation through creative public engagement. As part of this work, she has photographed protests and demonstrations to capture not just the events themselves, but the feeling of being within the movement—the solidarity, determination, and moments of joy that sustain activist communities. Her documentary style is personal, immersive, and driven by a desire to amplify the humanity and resilience of those fighting for change.

Beyond protests, Mary’s photography focuses on telling overlooked and underrepresented stories, always with an emphasis on authenticity and empathy. Through her images, she hopes to foster greater understanding, encourage dialogue, and strengthen bonds within and across communities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Mary Richardson is an experienced documentary photographer skilled at capturing raw, emotional, and nuanced stories of social justice movements, with particular expertise in protest and activist photography. She brings her technical proficiency from a career in IT and computer programming, enabling her to manage and produce high-quality digital work with precision and reliability.

As a committed community organizer, Mary is adept at building relationships, collaborating on collective projects, and using art as a tool for civic engagement and education. She also has experience as a teaching artist, sharing her photographic knowledge and social justice perspective with others to empower new storytellers and foster creative activism within her community.

Focus Areas

  • outdoor and movement based photography

  • lighting

skills

  • DSLR camera operation and technique;

  • portraiture photography

  • ambient lighting techniques for photography

Teaching / PRODUCTION experience

  • photography mentor for In Progress

  • curator for In Progress

  • curatorial advisor for the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts

LINKS