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An estimated 1.3 billion people in the world live with significant disabilities, making disabled people the largest minority group, yet representation in art remains inadequate and tokenistic. Unseen is a deeply personal project from artist Zoja Kalinovskis which seeks to redefine what disability looks like by including individuals with both visible and invisible disabilities.
Earlier this year, Autograph put out an open call, inviting photographers to share their work exploring issues of identity and representation in relation to disability with us. Our panel of judges selected Kalinovskis’ work to display here from over 140 brilliant submissions.
Inspired by classical sculpture, Unseen portrays disabled bodies with reverence - as worthy of art instead of objects of pity. The series challenges the narrative that disability is synonymous with suffering and seeks to dismantle societal prejudices.
"Disability is not a divergence from beauty, but an integral aspect of the human experience, and it demands a space in the broader artistic landscape."
– Kalinovskis
"The plastic sheet acts as a double metaphor in my work: demonstrating how society doesn't see disabled people and acting as a reminder that you can't always tell if someone is disabled by looking at them."
– Kalinovskis
"Unseen is a personal and collective exploration, offering a hopeful vision where all bodies are celebrated and included, and the work aims to ignite broader conversations on identity, representation, and intersectionality."
– Zoja Kalinovskis
Kalinovskis is a lens-based visual artist, whose work focuses on art activism. As a disabled, neurodivergent, queer, non-binary artist, their work is inherently political and socially engaged. In 2017, they became disabled, profoundly influencing their artistic practice.
Kalinovskis seeks to challenge the status quo and inspire collective action with conversations about our collective humanity and issues of race, disability, sexuality, gender and mental health. They have won multiple awards, including the the Portrait of Britain Award 2022, Association of Photographers' Emerging Talent Award and was a finalist in the 6th John Ruskin Prize and the 2023 Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize.
You can see more of Kalinovskis' work on their website or follow them on Instagram.
In June 2024, Autograph put out an Open Call for photographers exploring issues of disability, identity and representation in their work. This image gallery is the result of that Open Call, selected by a panel of judges from over 140 submissions.
Exploring issues of race, identity, representation, human rights and social justice, sharing how photographs reflect lived experiences and shape our understanding of ourselves and others.
See moreBanner image: Zoja Kalinovskis, Zeke and Eko [detail] from the series Unseen, 2022.
© and courtesy the artist.
Images on page: Zoja Kalvinovskis, from the series Unseen, 2022. © and courtesy the artist.
About the artist: Zoja Kavinovskis, from the series Parke's Imprint. © and courtesy the artist.
Discover more: Hélène Amouzou, from the series Autoportrait, Molenbeek, 2007 - 2011. © and courtesy the artist.
Autograph is a place to see things differently. Since 1988, we have championed photography that explores issues of race, identity, representation, human rights and social justice, sharing how photographs reflect lived experiences and shape our understanding of ourselves and others.
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