Cristina de Middel
Cristina de Middel (born 1975) is a Spanish-Belgian documentary photographer and artist living and working in Uruapan, Mexico. She is a full member of Magnum Photos and her work is held in the Tate collection.
Cristina de Middel
- Born
- 1975
- Birthplace
- Alicante, Spain
- Education
- * University of Oklahoma
- Known for
- Photography
- Nationality
- Spain
- Occupation
- photographer
- Honours
- Infinity Awards · Distinction of the Generalitat Valenciana for Cultural Merit · National Photography Award (Spain)
- Languages
- Spanish
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Cristina de Middel (born 1975) is a Spanish-Belgian documentary photographer and artist living and working in Uruapan, Mexico. She is a full member of Magnum Photos and her work is held in the Tate collection.
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wikidata · Q16215220 · wikipedia · Cristina de Middel
In this article
Biography
Biography
Cristina de Middel studied at Technical University of Valencia, University of Oklahoma and Autonomous University of Barcelona. The recorded working language is Spanish. Positions recorded include chairperson. Work by Cristina de Middel is recorded in the collections of Tate, Studio Museum in Harlem and Museo del Prado. Distinctions recorded are Infinity Awards, Distinction of the Generalitat Valenciana for Cultural Merit and National Photography Award (Spain).
Key facts
Key facts
• Born — 1975 • Birthplace — Alicante, Spain • Education — * University of Oklahoma • Technical University of Valencia • Autonomous University of Barcelona • Known for — Photography • Notable Works — The Afronauts • Website — http: www.lademiddel.com
Early life and education
Early life and education
De Middel was born in Alicante, Spain. She is half-Belgian, half-Spanish. She graduated with a M.A. in Photography from the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma, USA in 2000; with a M.A. in Fine Arts from the Technical University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain in 2001; and with a Postgraduate Degree in Photojournalism from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain in 2002.
Life and work
Life and work
De Middel spent ten years working as a photojournalist at a Spanish newspaper. She left in 2012 to pursue personal projects. She self-published The Afronauts in 2012, a photobook about the short-lived Zambian space program in Southern Africa. The book explored the history of the failed 1960s space program through staged re-enactments, challenging "viewers' perceptions about what's real and what's not." She was nominated for the 2013 Deutsche Börse Photography Prize for The Afronauts. In 2017 she became a nominee member of Magnum Photos and in 2022 became a full member. In June 2022, she became the first Spaniard to be elected president of Magnum. That year, she participated in the Fall 2022 pre-collection by Alexander McQueen, an initiative involving 12 female artists from around the world, including Marcela Correa and Hope Gangloff. In Journey to the Center (2024), De Middel documented the caravans of migrants who travelled through Mexico from its southern border with Guatemala to Felicity, a small town in California.
Exhibitions
Exhibitions
• Close Enough: New Perspectives from 12 Women Photographers of Magnum, International Center of Photography, New York, 2022
Identity and overview
Identity and overview
The following is established of the heading itself.
Works and production
Works and production
The following works and productions are recorded by name or by count.
Publications by De Middel
Publications by De Middel
• The Afronauts. London: Self-published, 2012.. Edition of 1000 copies. • Second edition. Bilbao, Spain: This Book Is True, 2016. Edition of 1500 copies. • Vida Y Milagros de Paula P (Life and Miracles of Paula P). Alicante, Spain: Museo de la Universidad de Alicante, 2009. Edition of 500 copies. Spanish. Early work featuring the "real story of a fake prostitute" Paula P. • SPBH Book Club Vol III. London: Self Publish, Be Happy, 2013. Edition of 500 copies.. • Party: Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung. Madrid: RM; London: Archive of Modern Conflict, 2013.. Edition of 1500 copies. • Afronauts. Zine Collection 12. Paris: Edition Bessard, 2014.. Edition of 300 copies. • This is What Hatred Did. Mexico; Barcelona: RM Editorial / London: Archive of Modern Conflict, 2015.. With text by Amos Tutuola, "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts". • Sharkification. São Paulo, Brazil: Editora Madalena, 2015.. Edition of 100 copies. • Man Jayen. Pamplona, Spain: Trama, 2015.. Catalogue of an exhibition held at the Museum of the University of Navarra. Edition of 1000 copies. • Cucurrucucu. Bilbao, Spain: This Book Is True; self-published, 2016.. With a text by Cuauhtémoc Medina. • The Perfect Man. Madrid, Spain: Editorial La Fabrica, 2017.. • Jungle Check Barcelona, Spain: Editorial RM, 2018.. • Midnight at the Crossroads Bilbao, Spain: This Book is True; self-published, 2018. • Preparados, Listos, Archivo. Madrid, Spain: Spanish Ministry of Culture, 2018. • Gentlemen's Club Bilbao, Spain: This Book is True; self-published, 2023. • The Kabuler Bilbao, Spain: This Book is True; self-published, 2023. • Journey to the Center. RM, 2024..
Publications about de Middel
Publications about de Middel
• Cristina de Middel. Colleción PHotoBolsillo. Madrid: La Fábrica, 2015..
Reception and standing
The scholarly and documentary record stands as follows. Recorded as having received Infinity Awards, Distinction of the Generalitat Valenciana for Cultural Merit and National Photography Award (Spain).
Collections
De Middel's work is held in the following permanent collection: • Tate, UK: 46 prints
Awards
• 2013: Nominated, Deutsche Börse Photography Prize for The Afronauts • 2013: Infinity Award from the International Center of Photography • 2014: Party: Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung won PhotoEspaña's Best Photography Book, international category award • 2020: Prix Virginia, award for female photographers, for Journey to the Center
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Vogue.it. Cristina de Middel.
- 2.Lanewgallery.com. "The Afronauts" exhibition at Quai1: Cristina de Middel.
- 3.Cristina de Middel born 1975. Tate.
- 4.Ghosh, Ravi. 'Imagine the photo project is a conference': An audience with Magnum's Cristina de Middel - 1854 Photography. www.1854.photography.
- 5.Davies, Lucy. Cristina de Middel: The Afronauts. The Daily Telegraph. 8 Jun 2014.
- 6.Cristina de Middel. www.deutscheboersephotographyfoundation.org.
- 7.Smyth, Diane. Excess exposed by Cristina de Middel and Bruno Morais - 1854 Photography. www.1854.photography.
- 8.Cristina de Middel is on a quest to photograph the fantastical. Huck. 2017-11-16.
- 9.Kermeliotis, Teo. Afronauts: Fictional photos recall forgotten Zambian space program. CNN. 2013-05-02.
- 10.O'Hagan, Sean. How photographers joined the self-publishing revolution. The Guardian. 14 April 2013.
- 11.Cristina De Middel : The Mongonauts. The New York Times.
- 12.Courtesy of the artist and the Photographers' Gallery, London. Deutsche Börse photography prize: 2013 shortlist – in pictures. The Guardian. 26 November 2012.
- 13.Cristina de Middel • Magnum Photos. Magnum Photos.
- 14.Cristina de Middel • Magnum Photos Magnum Photos. Magnum Photos.
- 15.Morales, Manuel. La fotógrafa Cristina de Middel, primera española en ocupar la presidencia de Magnum. El País. 1 July 2022.
- 16.Process of Creativity II: Marcela Correa. L'officiel Ibiza. 2022-08-18.
- 17.Process: Twelve Artists Reinterpret Looks From Alexander McQueen's Pre-Autumn/Winter 2022 Collection Autre Magazine. Autre Magazine. 2022-06-08.
- 18.Adams, Tim. The big picture: Cristina de Middel's fantastical take on the migrant story. The Observer. 2021-02-21. 0261-3077.
- 19.Icp.org. Cristina de Middel.
- 20.Apptitude Media. PhotoEspaña Discovery Award. 161. 7826. 7. 2014.
- 21.Close Enough: New Perspectives from 12 Women Photographers of Magnum. International Center of Photography. 2022-07-14.
References
Citations
References
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Further particulars
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This entry is compiled from 5 catalogued sources across 5 independent registers. The registers consulted are Wikidata, Wikipedia, Internet Archive, Wellcome Collection and DataCite. Every statement above is held against the register that stated it; where the registers are silent, the entry is silent.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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