Cristina de Middel

Cristina de Middel (born 1975) is a Spanish documentary photographer and artist living and working in Uruapan, Mexico.

De Middel self-published The Afronauts in 2012, a photobook about the short-lived Zambian space program in Southern Africa. According to Magnum Photos, the book "explored the history of a failed space program in Zambia in the 1960s through staged reenactments of obscure narratives, challenging the traditional depiction of the African continent". The book quickly sold out and the work was met with critical acclaim. She was nominated for the 2013 Deutsche Börse Photography Prize for The Afronauts.

In 2013, de Middel received the Infinity Award from the International Center of Photography. In 2017 she became a nominee member of Magnum Photos and in 2022 became a full member. In June 2022, she became the first Spaniard to be elected president of Magnum Photos.

Exhibitions

 * Close Enough: New Perspectives from 12 Women Photographers of Magnum, International Center of Photography, New York, 2022

Publications by De Middel

 * The Afronauts. London: Self-published, 2012. ISBN 9788461585960. Edition of 1000 copies.
 * Second edition. Bilbao, Spain: This Book Is True, 2016. Edition of 1500 copies.
 * Vida Y Milagros de Paula P (Life and Miracles of Paula P). Alicante, Spain: Museo de la Universidad de Alicante, 2009. Edition of 500 copies. Spanish. Early work featuring the "real story of a fake prostitute" Paula P.
 * SPBH Book Club Vol III. London: Self Publish, Be Happy, 2013. Edition of 500 copies..
 * Party: Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung. Madrid: RM; London: Archive of Modern Conflict, 2013. ISBN 9788415118671. Edition of 1500 copies.
 * Afronauts. Zine Collection 12. Paris: Edition Bessard, 2014. ISBN 979-10-91406-02-4. Edition of 300 copies.
 * This is What Hatred Did. Mexico; Barcelona: RM Editorial / London: Archive of Modern Conflict, 2015. ISBN 9780992941383. With text by Amos Tutuola, "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts".
 * Sharkification. São Paulo, Brazil: Editora Madalena, 2015. ISBN 9788569557074. Edition of 100 copies.
 * Man Jayen. Pamplona, Spain: Trama, 2015. ISBN 978-84-8081-473-7. Catalogue of an exhibition held at the Museum of the University of Navarra. Edition of 1000 copies.
 * Cucurrucucu. Bilbao, Spain: This Book Is True; self-published, 2016. ISBN 978-84-16282-65-4. With a text by Cuauhtémoc Medina.
 * The Perfect Man. Madrid, Spain: Editorial La Fabrica, 2017. ISBN 9788417048396.
 * Jungle Check Barcelona, Spain: Editorial RM, 2018. ISBN 978-84-17047-71-9.
 * Midnight at the Crossroads Bilbao, Spain: This Book is True; self-published, 2018.
 * Preparados, Listos, Archivo. Madrid, Spain: Spanish Ministry of Culture, 2018. ISBN 978-84-8181-724-9
 * Gentlemen's Club Bilbao, Spain: This Book is True; self-published, 2023. ISBN 9788448268459
 * The Kabuler Bilbao, Spain: This Book is True; self-published, 2023.

Publications about de Middel

 * Cristina de Middel. Colleción PHotoBolsillo. Madrid: La Fábrica, 2015. ISBN 978-8416248230.

Awards

 * Party: Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung won PhotoEspaña's Best Photography Book, international category award, 2014