My Story

In a world too often focused on divisions, I aim to illuminate the profound bonds that connect us all. By celebrating the shared humanity that transcends cultural differences, I propose to foster a greater sense of unity and empathy, one photograph at a time.

A Chicago-based photographer who traverses the globe in search of visual narratives, I am continually reminded of the profound interconnectedness that unites all people. Through my travels, I realized that while the cultural essences of each society may differ, our shared humanity remains unwavering.

In my photographs, I seek to portray the universal threads that bind us together. Whether in bustling cities or remote villages, I am attracted to the common emotions, aspirations, and struggles that transcend cultural boundaries. Through these glimpses into daily life, I aim to cultivate empathy and foster a better understanding among viewers. My images serve as windows into diverse communities, inviting viewers to witness the inherent connections bridging the gaps between cultures.

My body of work is a testament to the celebration of everyday life and the inherent beauty of the ordinary. I believe the remarkable exists within the seemingly mundane and am captivated by the subtle details and unassuming moments that shape our existence. With my camera as my guide, I strive to uncover the extraordinary within the commonplace, shedding light on the overlooked aspects of our collective experience.

Through my photography, I invite viewers to join me on a journey of discovery where the familiar and the foreign intertwine. I hope my work inspires a renewed sensibility for the rich tapestry of humanity and encourages viewers to see the extraordinary beauty that lies within their own lives.

My History

Mary Catherine Messner is a Chicago-based photographer who travels the World collecting visual stories. Her body of work celebrates everyday life and the innate beauty of ordinary things. The magic of Venice is currently a favorite subject of the photographer.

Ms. Messner has been honored to have her images included in various online and gallery exhibitions. Most recently, her ‘Venetian Water Colors’ fine art series was acknowledged by the 20th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards, to be exhibited in Barcelona, Spain in April 2024. This same series was also selected for exhibition in October 2023 during the Trieste Photo Days 2023 Festival as part of the Festival’s 71% The State of Water Project.

Her work was selected by A. Smith Gallery, Texas for inclusion in their ‘water’ (June 2023) ‘vistas’ (November 2021) and ‘portal’ (August 2021) juried exhibitions. The PhotoPlace Gallery, Vermont also included her images in their ‘Portrait’ (June 2023), ‘Rites and Rituals’ (December 2021), ‘Weather’ (October 2021), and ‘Portrait’ (June 2021) juried exhibitions. In October 2020 Mary Catherine was included in the #ICPConcerned exhibit and book, both curated by the ICP Museum in New York City.

In 2019, her 'Tribal Odisha' project was acknowledged in the 14th Pollux Awards and the 14th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards. A different collection of her India images was similarly honored by the 13th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards in 2018. Her work was shown in the Salmagundi Club's Open Exhibition in both 2019 and 2018, awarded a certificate of merit in 2018. As part of her participation in the B&H Portfolio Development Program, her projects were exhibited in the Program's juried exhibition at the Soho Photo Gallery, New York City in 2016, 2017, and 2019.

In addition to exhibitions, Mary Catherine’s work has been shown in high profile publications. Her image was included in the May 2020 Flora and Fauna issue of EyeShot Magazine. In 2019, her ‘Travelers of the Indian Railways’ series was part of the 2019 Seeing in Sixes publication edited by Brooks Jensen and Maureen Gallagher of LensWork Publishing.

CURRICULUM VITAE

2023

  • 20th Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers - ‘Venetian Water Colors’ series awarded an Honorable Mention in Fine Art category; work to be exhibited at FotoNostrum Gallery, Barcelona, Spain in April 2024.

  • Trieste Photo Days 2023 Festival: 71% The State of Water Project - ‘Venetian Water Colors’ series selected for Project’s planned exhibition at the Festival in Trieste, Italy in October 2023. Selected images will also be published in the Exhibit’s accompanying book.

  • A. Smith Gallery, Texas - individual image selected for inclusion in the Gallery’s juried online and in-house exhibition entitled  “water” (July, 2023).

  • PhotoPlace Gallery, Vermont - individual image selected for inclusion in the Gallery’s juried online and in-house exhibition entitled “Portrait” (July, 2023).

2021

  • A. Smith Gallery, Texas - individual images selected for inclusion in the Gallery’s two separately juried online and in-house exhibitions entitled  “portal” (August, 2021), and “vistas” (November, 2021), respectively.

  • PhotoPlace Gallery, Vermont - individual images selected for inclusion in the Gallery’s three separately juried online and in-house exhibitions entitled and “Portrait” (June, 2021), “Weather” (October, 2021), and “Rites and Rituals” (December, 2021), respectively.

2020

  • #ICPConcerned exhibit at the ICP Museum, New York City - image titled 'Winning' included in the #ICPConcerned exhibit in October, 2020 and published in the exhibition’s book of same name.

  • EyeShot Magazine, May 2020 Flora and Fauna Issue - Included as one of 130 street photographers whose work was featured.

  • 14th Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers - 'Tribal Odisha' project awarded Honorable Mentions in four separate categories; work exhibited at FotoNostrum Gallery, Barcelona, Spain.

  • 14th Pollux Award - 'Tribal Odisha' project awarded Honorable Mention; work exhibited at FotoNostrum Gallery, Barcelona, Spain.

2019

  • 13th Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers - awarded Honorable Mention in the Daily Life-Cultural category for a series of images depicting everyday scenes in Kolkata; work exhibited at FotoNostrum Gallery, Barcelona, Spain.

  • 13th Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers - awarded Honorable Mention in the Portrait category for a series of images depicting residents of Kolkata and Varanasi; work exhibited at FotoNostrum Gallery, Barcelona, Spain.

  • Seeing in Sixes 2019 - Six-image series titled “Riders of Indian Railways” published as part of LensWork Magazine's limited book project.

  • Salmagundi Club 41st Annual Open Exhibition - five images chosen for juried exhibition at the Salmagundi Club, New York City.

  • B&H Portfolio Development Program - project titled “Commitment - Getting Married at City Hall” chosen for a juried exhibition at Soho Photo Gallery, New York City.

2018

  • Salmagundi Club 40th Annual Open Exhibition - two images chosen for juried exhibition at the Salmagundi Club, New York City; received an Honorable Mention.

  • B&H Portfolio Development Program - project titled “Sri Lanka - Images of Everyday Life” participated in project exhibition at Soho Photo Gallery, New York City.

2017

  • B&H Portfolio Development Program - “Varanasi - Walking the Lanes” project chosen for juried exhibition at Soho Photo Gallery, New York City.

2016

  • B&H Portfolio Development Program - “Street Food Vendors” project chosen for juried exhibition at Soho Photo Gallery, New York City.