Blueprint by Benita Mayo

All About Photo is pleased to present ‘Blueprint’ by Benita Mayo as the winning project of our October 2025 Solo Exhibition, curated by Aline Smithson.

This deeply personal work explores the fragility of memory, the weight of history, and the ways in which family narratives are shaped by collective trauma. The project began after the sudden passing of the artist’s father in 2020, a loss that forever altered her perspective and sparked a journey to understand the impermanence of memory and the stories inherited across generations.

Rooted in Virginia—the birthplace of both her parents and a state indelibly marked by slavery, the Civil War, and the struggle for civil rights—the work intertwines personal history with America’s most painful chapters. Through words and photographs, the artist reflects on the fear, silence, and sorrow of her upbringing, while also honoring the resilience, love, and determination that endured.

Guided by Toni Morrison’s call not to “forgive and forget” but to “remember and do better,” the project confronts silence with truth. It is both an act of commemoration and a step toward healing, revealing how landscapes and family narratives can hold quiet outrage, mourning, and sacred remembrance.

‘Blueprint’ is on view in the Solo Exhibition section of All About Photo throughout October 2025.