Born in Guerrero, Mexico, in 1984, Yael Martínez is a photographer whose work explores the impact of violence, organized crime, and disappearance on Mexican communities. Combining documentary photography with symbolic imagery and interventions to his prints, he evokes absence, trauma, memory, and resilience.
His honors include the 2026 Edelman Impact Award in Photography from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the 2022 National Geographic Society Wayfinder Award; and the 2019 W. Eugene Smith Grant. He received awards in the 2022 and 2019 World Press Photo contests for The Flower of Time and The House That Bleeds, respectively.
His work has been exhibited internationally and published in The wall street journal,The New York Times, The New Yorker, Aperture, Time. He became a full member of Magnum Photos in 2024.
World Press Photo Involvement:
2026 Joop Swart Masterclass Mentor
2022 World Press Photo Contest winner
6x6 Global Talent Program nominator
6x6 North and Central America Talent
2019 World Press Photo Contest winner
2015 Joop Swart Master Class participant
Read more about Yael Martínez’s 2019 Photo Contest winning project ‘The House that Bleeds’ – In conversation with: Yael Martinez
Yael Martínez on Social Media:
Instagram: @yaelmtzv
Twitter: @yaelmtzv
