Federica Valabrega

bio: 
Federica was born in Rome, Italy in 1983, but spent most of her adult life living between Boulder, Co., Washington, D.C., and, since 2010 New York City. In 2008, Federica received a Master Degree in Journalism and documentary production at American University in Washington, D.C. and started documenting the historic Presidential race and inauguration in the streets of D.C.

Since 2010, Federica has been a freelance news photographer based in New York City, but sharing her time also between Rome, Italy and Jerusalem, Israel. Her photos have appeared in the New York Times, TIME Magazine, ELLE Magazine, Haaretz, Biber Magazine, and on a number of Italian newspapers such as: La Repubblica, Il Corriere della Sera, La Gazzetta dello Sport, La Stampa, Il Secolo XIX, Panorama and L’Espresso. When she is not shooting on assignment, or at her desk editing pictures, she can be found teaching Dharma Yoga classes in Brooklyn, training for the next marathon or on the road photographing her next story.

artist's statment:
Federica’s photography and personal projects both focus on people. Her fascination with humans– particularly those who find self-expression difficult in a world full of societal (and in some cases, personal) taboos – is rooted in her own unique and challenging experience as an Italian immigrant in a foreign country. Federica is interested in getting as close as possible to her subjects’ life. She applies a narrative layer to the visual story telling, portraying the struggles of her subjects, as they push the boundaries of societal restraints. By layering these two skills and pushing her own boundaries, she is able to extract and expose truth when cameras and reporting are not always welcome.

awards:
• On May 22, 2014 Federica Valabrega’s image "Chanel N5,” which represents religious woman Chaya Levy in her wedding dress running toward the door with a perfume bottle at hand, won the second place at the "BNL photography prize” within the Milan Image Fair (MIA) photography show in Milan, Italy.
• In December 2013 Federica won the "Premio Amerigo” for her work as an Italian photo-reporter abroad "for showing the United States of America to the Italians.” The journalistic prize was sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Rome and was delivered to her in Florence, Italy.
• In October 2012, Federica was the winner of the "Premio Labo'” with "Daughters of The King” at the Foiano Photography Festival with a special mention in the National Geographic Blog.
• In June 2012 Federica was nominated as a Finalist of the Foto Visura Project dedicated to Women in Photography with her work from "Daughters Of The King” that was featured at Photoville photo-exhibit in Brooklyn, N.Y. • In May of 2009 Federica’s photo "She Has A Dream” was featured in the Newseum, the Washington, D.C. museum of News on Pennsylvania Avenue as a Finalist of the FOTOBAMA Week Photo Contest, her image was also published in the book "Fotobama: Picturing The President" edited by the Aba Agency. 


solo exhibits & books:
• On November 26, 2013, Federica exhibited these photographs collected in the past four years at the Ermanno Tedeschi Gallery in Rome. That day she also presented her first book by the same name edited by BurnBOOKS.
• From May 23-25, 2014, the Ermanno Tedeschi Gallery exhibited Federica's work from "Daughters of the King" at the Milan Image Art Fair as part of the international photography festival in Milan, Italy.
• On September 2, 2014 Federica's photographs from "Daughters of the King" were shown at the photography festival "VISA POUR L’IMAGE” in Perpignan, France.
• On September 14, 2014 Federica's photographs from "Daughters of the King" were shown at the Museo di Cultura Ebraica in Bologna, Italy as part of the Jewish heritage awareness day.
• On November 2014 one of Federica's images from "Daughters of the King" were shown at ParaPhotí² Festival in Turin, Italy as part of "Light the Lightness" collective exhibit organized by Visual Fotografia Torino. 
•On November 26, 2013, Federica exhibited these photographs collected in the past four years at the Ermanno Tedeschi Gallery in Rome. That day she also presented her first book by the same name edited by BurnBOOKS. 
•From May 23-25, 2014, the Ermanno Tedeschi Gallery exhibited Federica's work from "Daughters of the King" at the Milan Image Art Fair as part of the international photography festival in Milan, Italy. 
• On September 2, 2014 Federica's photographs from "Daughters of the King" will be shown at the photography festival "VISA POUR L’IMAGE” in Perpignan, France.
• On September 14, 2014 Federica's photographs from "Daughters of the King" will be shown at the Museo di Cultura Ebraica in Bologna, Italy as part of the Jewish heritage awareness day.
• On November 2014 one of Federica's images from "Daughters of the King" will be shown at ParaPhotí² Festival in Turin, Italy as part of Light the Lightness collective exhibit organized by Visual Fotografia Torino.