Alanna Airitam is a photo-based conceptual artist based in Tucson, Arizona. Airitam pushes the traditional boundaries of photography by incorporating materials such as metal, resin, varnish, and gold into her work. Her work is inspired by the lighting of 17th century Renaissance paintings, early Black studio photography, and historic and contemporary narratives.
Airitam’s work has garnered recognition with features in notable publications such as the Chicago Tribune, BBC News, Artdoc Photography Magazine, and Lenscratch. Her work has been exhibited and collected at esteemed institutions including the Center for Creative Photography, New Orleans Museum of Art, the Fidelity Collection, Virginia Museum of Fine Art, and Rhode Island School of Design Museum.
She was awarded the 2020 San Diego Art Prize, 2020 Michael Reichman Project Grant Award, 2020 Critical Mass Finalist, 2021 Silver List, and 2023 Project Mesquite: New Works Grant from Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona.
Driven by a commitment to empowering emerging artists of color, Airitam serves as a valuable board member for Medium Photo and Oakwood Arts, organizations dedicated to fostering opportunities for underrepresented creatives. She co-founded the Southwest Black Artists Collective, a platform that champions the voices and contributions of Black artists within the Southwest region. Additionally, she promotes the work of undergrad and grad students through the MFA Homecoming Program and mentors emerging artists from low economic backgrounds to use their voice and to help open doorways in the art world.