Anya Teixeira facts for kids
Anya Teixeira (born 1913, died 1992) was a talented British photographer. She was born in the Russian Empire and became known for her amazing street photography and photojournalism. Her work is so important that it is kept in the famous Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
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Biography
Anya Teixeira's family had to leave their home during the Russian Revolution in 1917. This was a big change in Russia when the old government was overthrown. Her uncle, Morris Gest, who was a show producer in New York City, helped them escape.
In 1924, her family settled in Berlin, Germany. They hoped to be close by if the new government in Russia, called the Bolsheviks, was overthrown. However, about 15 years later, they had to flee again, this time from the Nazis. The Nazis were a political group in Germany that caused a lot of trouble and danger.
Anya arrived in England in April 1939. At first, people who were refugees like her were only allowed to work as domestic servants or in factories. But Anya eventually got an office job. She worked in secretarial roles until she retired in 1975.
Photography was something Anya started doing seriously in her spare time when she was 47 years old. Just three years later, she helped start the Creative Photo Group in London. This group was even praised by famous historians Helmut and Alison Gernsheim in their book A Concise History of Photography.
Exhibitions
Anya Teixeira's photographs were shown in many exhibitions around the world. Here are some of them:
- Fotoarbeiten, Congress Centrum, Hamburg
- On Stage, Camden Arts Centre, London
- Dancing in the Streets, Camden Arts Centre, London
- World Press Photo, The Hague
- Photokina (she won a special award called the Crystal Obelisk) Cologne
- Art for Society, Whitechapel Gallery, London, 1978
- Midland Arts Centre, Birmingham
- Midland Group, Nottingham
- British Council Travelling Exhibition (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka)
- British Council Theatre Exhibition, Lisbon
- British Council Fringe Theatre Exhibition, Venezuela
- Women's Images of Men, ICA, London, 1980
Collections
Anya Teixeira's work is part of a permanent collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. This means her photographs are kept there forever for people to see and study. As of March 8, 2022, the museum holds four of her prints.
See also
- List of street photographers
