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When Sandra Catanio Adorno picked up a camera for the first time, she was 60 years old.
She had no photography background, no formal training, and no camera. She says she took “horrible” photographs at first. But a workshop with Alex Webb and Rebecca Norris Webb sparked something that would completely reshape the way she experienced the world.
Today, Sandra is an internationally recognized street photographer, the author of four acclaimed photobooks, and the creator of a stunning solo exhibition at the 61st Venice Biennale.
Before we even began recording, Sandra gave me a tour of her fabulous exhibition. As she walked through shimmering silver prints, a fragmented mosaic, and fabric installations overlooking the canals of Venice, it became clear to me that her work goes far beyond photographs. It’s about curiosity and experimentation, and it’s about inviting people to see familiar things in new ways.
In this conversation, we talk about discovering creativity later in life, collaborating with artists and publishers, finding new ways of seeing, and why Sandra believes we all have far more potential than we realize.
Whether you’ve been making photographs for decades or are still waiting for the “right time” to begin, Sandra’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to discover something that changes your life.
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An inspiring feature for anyone who’s ever felt like they got started a little too late.
About Sandra Cattaneo Adorno
Sandra Cattaneo Adorno (b. 1953, Rio de Janeiro) started photographing in 2013 at the age of 60 and has since achieved extensive recognition for her work. Her inventive practice revolves around street photography as a way of questioning reality and representation. Guided by a profound sense of curiosity, Cattaneo Adorno pairs insight and playfulness to reflect through images on both society and personal memories.
The experimental approach Cattaneo Adorno adopts while photographing is mirrored by the techniques she employs to exhibit her work, ranging from the use of innovative inks and materials to her most recent exploration of the possibilities of connecting stills and projections, visuals and sound.
Cattaneo Adorno has worked closely with Radius Books to create monographs that could expand the poetic possibilities of her photography: The Other Half of the Sky (2019), Águas de Ouro (2020), Scarti di Tempo (2022) and Ten Years (2024).
In April of 2024 Cattaneo Adorno launched her solo exhibition during the 60th Venice Biennale, organised by the European Cultural Centre. In May 2026 she opened her second solo exhibition in Venice in conjunction with the 61st Biennale.
Sandra is represented by Robert Mann Gallery in New York. All inquiries please contact the gallery.
Website | Fragments of Light Exhibition