Monday, October 28, 2024

Ronit Bezalel

Photographer :: Filmmaker

Ronit Bezalel is an award-winning photographer and filmmaker whose work celebrates connection and community. She began her career at the National Film Board of Canada with the documentary When Shirley Met Florence. After moving to Chicago in 1994 to study at Columbia College, she spent 20 years documenting the demolition of Cabrini Green and the displacement of a storied Black community from the city center. Bezalel’s acclaimed films, Voices of Cabrini and 70 Acres in Chicago, have sparked global discussions on affordable housing, earning her recognition as one of Newsweek's 'Top 10 Women of the 21st Century.

Bezalel embarked on her photography career in 2012 with the purchase of her first mirrorless camera. Her most recent solo exhibition, Faces of Argyle, showcased powerful street portraits, reflecting her ongoing commitment to documenting Chicago's vibrant neighborhoods. Her photography has also been exhibited at The Chicago Center for Photojournalism, Chicago Fine Arts Salon, Christopher Art Gallery, Everybody’s Coffee, and the PO Box Collective Gallery. Through her lens, Bezalel continues to celebrate connection and shared humanity.