Photographs © their respective makers, from top left to bottom right (details): Birthe Piontek, Jane Fulton Alt, Aline Smithson, Diana Nicholette Jeon, Morgan Ford Willingham, Vanessa Woods, Sarah Meadows, Mary Frey, Dana Fritz, Stella Johnson, Cahntal Heijnen.

We’ve all met someone who has inspired us. Someone whose creativity catapults our own and pushes us to become more daring artists. Earlier this year, we asked the artists from A Yellow Rose Project to tell us who has left an indelible mark on their practice. Over the past days, we shared their unique responses. Thank you to everyone who shared their words and images for this initiative. We hope you find them as inspiring as we did. Go and give these artists a follow and look at their incredible works! They deserve it.

Part III

Birthe Piontek
was chosen by Serrah Russell
IG: @birthepiontek |

“Always impresses me in her ability to create photographic work that is emotionally moving, politically relevant, deeply personal, intellectually challenging, but before any of that, delightfully (and sometimes uncomfortably) visually arresting.” — Serrah Russell

© Birthe Piontek, Twins from Abendlied, 2015

Jane Fulton Alt
was chosen by Yvette Meltzer
IG: @janefultonalt | @yvettemaxine

“A mentor to me and other photographers, Jane is an artist who is a magician with her camera. Long inspired by her heartfelt socially relevant photographs, I find her equally beautiful as a person – open to the world, and spreading joy.” — Yvette Meltzer  

© Jane Fulton Alt, Many Moons Compilation, 2022

Aline Smithson
was chosen by Tracy L. Chandler
IG: @janefultonalt | @tracylchandler

“Aline is my hero.” — Tracy L. Chandler 

© Aline Smithson, Fugue State Revisited

Sarah Meadows
was chosen by Thalassa Raasch
IG: @smeadowsmeadows | @thalassaraasch

“Sarah is a dear artist comrade who I have known since 2014. Her thoughts on nature, the sublime, and the digital are ones that I deeply admire, and they continue to inspire and challenge my own process. I am very grateful to be in her orbit and to continue learning alongside her.” — Thalassa Raasch

© Sarah Meadows, Untitled, 2024

Mary Frey
was chosen by Tamara Reynolds
IG: @maryfrey123 | @@tamarareynoldsphotography

© Mary Frey, Untitled, 1986

Morgan Ford Willingham
was chosen by Susan kae Grant
IG:  @morganfordwillingham | @susankaegrant

© Morgan Ford Willingham, Untitled (Minerva), 2023

Karen Marshall
was chosen by Susan Rosenberg Jones
IG:  @kmphoto | @susanrosenbergjones

© Karen Marshall, Jen and Molly, 1985

Diana Nicholette Jeon
was chosen by Sheri Lynn Behr
IG: @diananicholettejeon | @slbehr

© Diana Nicholette Jeon, The Walking Away And The Sign, 2019

Sally Mann
was chosen by Preston Gannaway
IG:  @sallymannofficial | @susankaegrant

© Sally Mann, Deep South, Untitled, Scarred Tree

Vanessa Woods
was chosen by Rachel Phillips
IG:  @vanessa_woods_studio | @treadwellpress

“Innovative collage using her own photographs” —  Rachel Phillips

© Vanessa Woods, Recast, 2025

Dana Fritz
was chosen by Rana Young  
IG: @danafritzphoto | @rana.young

© Dana Fritz, Post-fire Postscript, 2024

Stella Johnson
was chosen by Rania Matar
IG: @stellajohnson | @raniamatar

“I love the work, and the person behind it. The Ghost Bride seeks to capture what is lost as cultural heritage erodes. The knowledge and traditions inherited from previous generations and passed to descendants are disappearing.” — Rania Matar

© Stella Johnson, La Quinceañera, 2024

Chantal Heijnen
was chosen by Sara Bennett
IG: @chantalheijnen | @sarabennettbrooklyn

“Two years ago, I met Chantal Heijnen, a photographer from the Netherlands living in New York City,  at the artists’ Preview Day for the New York Now: Home exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York. We were  signing copies of the catalog created for the exhibition, and I was seated next to her 8-year-old son, Lou, who was also signing the books. At first I thought Lou was just helping Chantal, but I discovered that the two of them had collaborated on a series, “Lou’s Summer.” I was drawn to Chantal because she radiates calm and a certain centerdness. When I started to dig into her work, I was struck by the tenderness of her photos, by the deep connection she has forged with the people she photographs, and by the absolute beauty of her images.” — Sara Bennet

© Chantal Heijnen, Girl with the Orange Wig, 2011 (Tori traveling home to celebrate New Years Eve. 183rd street, The Bronx)

Josephine Sacabo
was chosen by Sarah Hadley
IG: @josephinesacabo | @sarahhadleystudio

“A creative force for many years. She weaves poetry, photography and female perspectives together beautifully.” — Sarah Hadley

© Josephine Sacabo, Une Femme Habitee