A COVENTRY photographer has won the Portrait of Britain Award for his powerful snapshots into what its like to face homelessness.
Coventry University’s Associate Professor Anthony Luvera’s winning photograph, Assisted Portrait of Mauvette Reynolds, has been acknowledged by the British Journal of Photography.
The photograph was praised for its raw and real exploration of the lives of people facing homelessness.
Anthony, who is a researcher in the university’s Centre for Arts, Memory and Communities, has had his work exhibited in institutions and festivals around the world.
The award-winning snap is part of Anthony’s ‘Construct’ project, which is centred around the lives and experiences of more than 50 people facing homelessness in Birmingham.
Anthony immersed himself in the community, building relationships with homeless people for over a year before setting up photography workshops to teach them how to use camera equipment.
They were then given cameras to capture their unique experiences and perspectives.
Anthony said: “I have worked with people experiencing homelessness to address issues of housing justice for over two decades.
“I’m interested in working to enable people with lived experience to amplify their points of view about the systems and services that shape their everyday lives.
“To see the Assisted Self-Portrait of Mauvette Reynolds from Construct recognised by the British Journal of Photography through their Portrait of Britain award is a meaningful validation of the co-creation of this work with Mauvette and the many other people who have experienced homelessness that have participated in my work over the years.”
