Leila Alaoui

A tribute to the renowned photographer, famous for capturing identities, cultures and communities through her photography and video. Admired Moroccan-French photographer Leila Alaoui (1982-2016) brought to light a full spectrum of striking beauty and challenging realities by blending techniques from fashion and fine art portraiture with photojournalistic storytelling. Alaoui's powerful images won her solo shows at MEP Paris and Somerset House London, besides gallery exhibitions and public installations globally. The artist was among the first to portray the refugee crisis in contemporary art and commissioned by humanitarian organisations to document key issues. This monograph collects her oeuvre, featuring previously unseen creative and biographical material that communicates the artistic vision and charismatic spirit of an inspiring young woman whose unique imagery and abrupt departure rendered her a heroic figure renowned worldwide. Released to acknowledge a decade since her life was taken in a terrorist attack in Burkina Faso where she was working for Amnesty International in support of women's rights, the publication is edited by arts writer and friend of the photographer Kasia Maciejowska. It features insightful tributes by cultural figures such as Iranian artist Shirin Neshat, Yves Saint Laurent's partner Pierre Bergé, and UNHCR commissioner Bruno Rotival, plus new essays by Honorary Research Fellow at The Courtauld Institute of Art and The British Museum, Dr Venetia Porter, President of the Moroccan Association of Photographic Art, Professor Jaâfar Akil, and independent curator and publisher of African art Anna-Alix Kofi.