Mariam Rauf

Contact: Mariamr1@gmail.com

Based in: New York, NY

Languages: Balochi, English, Urdu and Hindi

Bio: I am a Baloch-American photographer and writer in New York City. I worked with survivors of domestic and sexual violence for a decade before pivoting to civic activism and pursuing photography professionally. My work focuses on communities that are either forgotten or misrepresented. Thank You Curry Hill is my ode to a small area on Lexington Avenue I took for granted until the Covid-19 pandemic. As the city recovered, foot traffic in Curry Hill did not. This project is part archiving a changing neighborhood and part a love letter. My photographs documenting New York during the COVID-19 pandemic were published in the Asian American Federation’s report Impact of COVID-19 on Asian Employment in New York City. My long-term project is on Baloch women representation, both in the diaspora and Balochistan.

My experience working with survivors informs my approach, bringing in trauma-informed practice where possible. I have published articles on Baloch women activists in Pakistan, my experience in the domestic violence field, and the need for intersectionality. I donate and sell photographs to support communities and causes close to my heart, from New York to Gaza.