Devin Allen, a self-taught artist from Baltimore, rose to prominence when his photograph from the Baltimore Uprising appeared on TIME magazine’s cover in May 2015, marking him as only the third amateur photographer to achieve this distinction.

In 2017, he was appointed the inaugural fellow of the Gordon Parks Foundation Fellowship and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for his debut book, “A Beautiful Ghetto” (Haymarket Books).

Devin’s commitment to social justice was further recognized when he was named a 2020 Ambassador for Leica Camera AG. Following the tragic deaths tragic deaths of George Floyd, Tony McDade, and Breonna Taylor, his work once again took center stage. TIME featured his poignant photograph from a Black Trans Lives Matter protest on their June 2020 cover, a testament to the power of his lens in capturing the spirit of the moment and the urgency of the cause.

Devin’s evocative portrayals of Black life have not only captivated the hearts of many but have also been showcased in major publications such as New York Magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Aperture. His photographs, a testament to his unique perspective and artistic prowess, are held in high regard and are part of the permanent collections at prestigious institutions, including the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, the Jule Collins Smith Museum, and The Studio Museum in Harlem.

Untitled, 2020
photo by Devin Allen