Sabrina Giacomaggio (born 1996) is a Brooklyn based photographer creating documentary, and narrative based images. She grew up between Long Island, New York and a dairy farm in Huron County, Michigan. Unable to care for her alone, every summer her single mother sent her to the farm she grew up on. For 12 weeks each year, Sabrina’s extended family, the rolling fields, and the farm animals would become her parents, mentors, and much later, her creative roots as a photographer. Apart from the chores on the farm, there was nothing to do, little to play with, but somehow, the farm became a place of innovation and curiosity, secretly guiding her to becoming an artist.
Her work is primarily centered around family, the idea of home, and connections. For the last few years she has been working on a long form documentary series titled Sending Thoughts and Prayers. She is currently enrolled at The Fashion Institute of Technology, and is expected to receive her BFA in Photography and Related Media in May of 2021. She has recently shown work through the FIT museum, and at So Mad Studios in NYC. In addition, she recently gave an artist lecture through the School of Visual Art’s NY Photo Salon.
Sending Thoughts and Prayers
Sending Thoughts and Prayers is a long form documentary series, telling the story of my mother’s last few years. Initially, in January 2019, the series was created out of necessity for me, a defense mechanism to the realities of my declining mother. Eventually, the series continued out of collaboration with her. Her speech and mobility were limited, but she clung to the idea that we were still able to do something, anything together. Through a number of health complications, we created the contents of Sending Thoughts and Prayers. The images primarily highlight our relationship, our navigation through life’s process, and an overarching fear of death.
In June 2020, my mother passed away while in isolation due to the pandemic. I will continue to work on the series we created together, with hopes of publishing the images into a book.
To view more of Sabrina Giacomaggio’s work please visit their website.