Deana Lawson

The domestic settings of Lawson’s photographs in this display may suggest they are images of people in their homes. Some are, but many of her portraits are more complex.

Lawson finds her subjects through chance encounters or friends, gravitating towards those who resemble people she grew up around. She then works closely with her models to decide on details of the composition, such as the environment and their pose. The artist carefully stages each scene, sometimes inserting props or rearranging furniture. The distinction between invented and authentic aspects is deliberately blurred.

Lawson uses medium and large format film cameras for many of her pictures. These capture rich textures, colours and shadows. By merging lived experiences and imagined narratives, Lawson depicts her subjects as nuanced and multi-faceted individuals, creating a mirror of everyday lives.