Maria


LISBON, 2023-2024

Recognized with Cortona On The Move Award 2024, LensCulture Emerging Talent Awards 2024, Inglewood Photography Festival Book Grant 2024 and an Honorable Mention in Novos Talentos Fnac 2024.

Ana Maria Jeremias’ life as a carer and domestic worker in Portugal echoes the experience of countless women around the world. Trafficked from Angola to Portugal aged nine, under false promises of education, Maria has spent more than four decades working in other people’s homes, making a vital contribution to their daily lives. By focusing on Ana Maria's story, the photographer aims to encourage reflection on privilege, to honor her life and that of so many women like her.

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PHOTOGRAPHS & GRAPHIC DESIGN
Maria Abranches

TEXTSAna Maria Jeremias
Maria Abranches

EDITINGMário Cruz / Narrativa



Dance
Not Dance


GULBENKIAN, 2023-2024

Dance not dance — Archaeologies of new dance in Portugal — explores the evolution of dance through the 20th and early 21st centuries. Curated through a collaboration that gathered diverse archival materials, I was responsible for photographing all rehearsals and performances, capturing the creative process. The program challenged linear narratives of dance history, presenting a multifaceted view of its evolution and the shifting notions of the body and movement in society and concluded with an exhibition held from 15 November 2024 to 13 January 2025.


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CURATORS
Ana Bigotte Vieira
Ana Dinger
Carlos Oliveira
João dos Santos Martins

PHOTOGRAPHS
Maria Abranches

CO-PRODUCTIONCalouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Parasita Associação




Dark Skin


LISBON, 2021

Dark Skin is a short film directed by Graça Castanheira, based on an original concept by Kalaf Epalanga, that follows the journey of six Afro-descendant friends from Lisbon's outskirts as they travel to the Centro Cultural de Belém. The film explores themes of racism, inclusion, and the dynamics between the center and periphery, offering an intimate portrayal of the protagonists' experiences. Premiering on July 4, 2021, the film was accompanied by screenings and discussions featuring experts from various fields, including urbanism, sociology, and the arts. The project also includes behind-the-scenes photography documenting both the filming process and the post-screening discussions.

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DIRECTIONGraça Castanheira

ORIGINAL IDEAKalaf Epalanga

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHYJoão Ribeiro

PHOTOGRAPHSMaria Abranches

CO-PRODUCTION
Maria João Mayer
Centro Cultural de Belém



Braid
theWorld


LISBON, 2022

This series was born from my encounter with four Afro-descendant hairdressers in Lisbon’s Intendente neighborhood, as part of the 14th Edition of the Intendente Photographic Narratives, curated by Pauliana Valente Pimentel and Patrícia Craveiro Lopes. The experience culminated in an exhibition at Casa Independente and deeply shaped my photographic perspective. Engaging with these communities served as a catalyst for my exploration of themes such as gender inequalities, racialized identities, structural racism, and the lasting consequences of Portuguese colonialism. 

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CURATORS
Pauliana Valente Pimentel
Patrícia Craveiro Lopes

PHOTOGRAPHSMaria Abranches

EXHIBITION DESIGN Pauliana Valente Pimentel
Maria Abranches
Luna Andrade

LOCATIONCasa Independente



Selected Press
& Editorial Work


2020-PRESENT

As an independent photographer, I collaborate with publications and cultural entities such as Público, Agência Reuters, The Guardian, and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Recently, I covered the Paralympics for Reuters, and my work has been featured in major outlets including The Guardian, The Washington Post, BBC, CNN, Libération, The Globe and Mail, The Sun, Folha de S. Paulo, and Le Monde, showcasing my diverse visual storytelling. Have a look at a selection of my published work here.

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