© Izabella Demavlys, Raffat, from the series Without A Face

“Raffat was one of the youngest survivors I met in Pakistan, and capturing her portrait was especially challenging. She was still in the early stages of her healing, both physically and emotionally. Her vulnerability and quiet bravery during that time left a lasting impression on me.” — Izabella Demavlys

Congratulations to Izabella Demavlys for being selected as the recipient of the inaugural Richards Family Prize, awarded each year by the Griffin Museum of Photography. The Richards Family Prize is a $4,000 scholarship supporting mid-career photographers producing work that is creative and original. Aline Smithson was the juror for the 2024 / 2025 cycle.

The juror shares: “Izabella Demavlys produced a powerful series titled Without a Face that shares a series of unflinching portraits of women who have suffered acid attacks, resulting in profound disfiguration. As we know, all juroring is subjective and we are drawn to particular projects for personal reasons. As a woman, I have been thinking a lot about how women are treated around the world, thinking about the assaults, physically and politically, that women face on a daily basis.

I have watched my rights erode over the last year, and have witnessed horrific violence towards women all around the globe. I have followed the trials in France and abuses in Africa and South Asia.Demavlys’ photographs come at a critical time in history, forcing us to look hard at that abuse, but also consider the beauty inside the subject, having suffered and survived. This is an important series, confronting the viewer with the hard truths of what human beings can do to each other.

As the photographer states, ‘The women displayed enormous strength and a willingness to keep on living. This is something we can all learn a great deal from. Some people go through tremendous amounts of pain in their lives and still carry on.’ Huge congratulations to Izabella, thank you for bearing witness with your meaningful work.”

Join Demavlys for an online artist talk hosted by the Griffin Museum on January 17th, 2026, from 2 pm to 3:30 pm.

Portrait of the artist.

Izabella Demavlys is a Swedish born photographer and artist based in New York City. She studied at the Royal Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, as well as Parsons School of Design in New York. Initially carving her niche in fashion photography, she made a pivotal transition to portraiture and documentary work. Izabella’s work has been featured in publications such as Vogue, Marie Claire, The New York Times, and VICE, with exhibitions in both the U.S. and Europe.

Follow Izabella on Instagram: @i.demavlys

Without A Face

In 2009, Izabella Demavlys embarked on a project that involved traveling from New York to Pakistan to photograph and interview women who had experienced acid attacks. Coming from a fashion photographer’s perspective, her objective was to comprehend and establish her personal interpretation of the concept of beauty. This endeavor resulted in the project titled Without a Face. Expanding on this initiative, Demavlys continued to delve into the concept of beauty and its social and cultural implications through her ongoing project. She has traveled across the United States with the intention of engaging with women whose beauty transcends their scars, skin disorders, age, or struggles. These encounters fostered discussions surrounding genuine significance of beauty and self- acceptance, despite the unrealistic beauty standards imposed by society onto women. Her belief, which has been a guiding principle since her days as a fashion photographer, is that beauty cannot be solely defined by appearance. Consequently, Demavlys photographs women whose empowered and embodied beauty radiates from their accomplishments, struggles, and triumphs in life.

© Izabella Demavlys, Tonya, from the series Without A Face

“Tonya was one of the first burn survivors I met here in the States. I flew down to Atlanta to meet and photograph her. She is a powerful woman and a huge inspiration for the burn survivor community in the United States. Not only does she speak up, but she also fiercely advocates for the values at the core of my work, encouraging others to find their own strength and voice.” — Izabella Demavlys

© Izabella Demavlys, Saira, from the series Without A Face

“This is Saira. She was burned with acid by her then fiancé. She was the first burn survivor that I met and photographed in Pakistan. This photograph is that defining moment for me as a photographer. That moment when everything shifted. She embodies the spirit of never giving up, refusing to let the world dictate what she can or cannot do with her life. Her tenacity is a powerful reminder that no one else gets to define your possibilities or your worth.” — Izabella Demavlys

© Izabella Demavlys, Memoona, from the series Without A Face

“I met Memoona in Karachi, Pakistan. She was attacked with acid by a boy on her way to school. Despite this, her presence was extraordinary: dressed elegantly, with makeup carefully applied, she looked straight into the camera. That moment was incredibly powerful and remains emblematic of how I want survivors portrayed—sitting or standing tall, unapologetic, undiminished, fully claiming their space and power.” — Izabella Demavlys

© Izabella Demavlys, Bushra, from the series Without A Face

“Bushra was attacked with acid during a family dispute. In her portrait, she smiles gently, allowing vulnerability and joy to coexist. In that moment, she embodies the quiet power and profound beauty of the human spirit.” — Izabella Demavlys

© Izabella Demavlys, Sabira, from the series Without A Face

“Sabira concludes this series. I love how the light pours through the window, and by photographing her slightly from below, I aimed to give her an almost iconic, statuesque presence. She sits there, unapologetic and empowered—a striking representation of strength and self-assurance.” — Izabella Demavlys