"Deana Lawson" is a scholarly publication and comprehensive museum exhibition survey of Deana Lawson's photography, covering fifteen years of her work. It explores conventional representations of black identities in the African American and African diaspora, using various photographic styles like family albums, studio portraits, staged tableaux, and found images to create narratives of love, family, and desire. Lawson collaborates with her subjects to challenge voyeuristic photography, addressing themes of sexuality, personal and social histories, and spirituality. The book includes personal and vernacular photographs and essays by notable writers and scholars. The exhibition was held at ICA/Boston, MoMA PS1, and High Museum of Art.
