Martha Rial

Above are selection of portraits commissioned by the Richard King Mellon Foundation for their 2020 and 2021 Annual Reports. RKMF has been investing in visionaries who seek to improve the quality of life in Southwestern Pennsylvania and to preserve the environment throughout the United States  for 75 years. 

#afghanistan #refugees #pittsburgh #postindustrial 

I collaborated with editor Kim Palmeiro on a story about how refugees and immigrants were revitalizing older Rust Belt cities for Postindustrial Magazine. You can view additional images and read the story: https://postindustrial.com/featuredstories/boosting-older-cities-through-people/

Earlier this year, I was commisioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to photograph world-renowned conductor Manfred Honeck for the cover of their Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 album. Maestro Honeck was a delightful subject  and the orchestra chose an additional image from our shoot to use as his official headshot. The album was recently nominated for three Grammy awards. 

Next year I will be able to expand Beyond the Ceiling to Millvale, another riverfront community in transistion near Pittsburgh. Funding is provided by the Investing in Professional Artists Grants Program, a partnership of The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowments. 

Eca, a deaf Congolese refugee, was resettled in Pittsburgh with his brother last year.  

Communication devices for Variety’s “My Voice” program.  

You can read more about the women here: https://beyondtheceiling.tumblr.com

Thousands of young Pittsburghers gathered at Blue Slide Park to mourn the death of 26-year-old rapper Mac Miller. Miller, who grew up in Pittsburgh and played at Blue Slide Park as a child, died the previous week of an accidental overdose. He had just released his fifth album titled Swimming. 

Recently I was commission by @NEXTpittsburgh to produce an essay about Pittsburgh’s historic Homewood neighborhood. You can view the slideshow featuring the dynamic individuals and unique spaces here: https://bit.ly/2BmzD3c

Sabika CEO and President Alexandra Mayr-Gracik for Mt Lebanon Magazine

This temporary photography mural titled Hazelwood Rising was created by my students and Hazelwood residents Al Ferguson, Dasawn Gray, Joe Hepner, Harriet Stein and George Williams during my Artist in the Public Realm Residency with Arts Excursions Unlimited at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Hazelwood in 2016. The mural was on display at 4944 Second Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood from December 2016 until October 2017 and is result of a partnership with the Office of Public Art and The Heinz Endowments.  

Janiya, with Bubbles was recently chosen by Start with Art: Pittsburgh for distribution to 150 newborn babies at three Pittsburgh area hospitals. Their mission, which began in 2015, is to grow an audience for photography, make art accessible and encourage the collection of art throughout our lives.

My photo essay on Homestead’s longtime mayor Betty Esper was featured in the October issue of Pittsburgh Magazine. Esper, age 84, has served the rust belt community for more than 35 years and was recently reelected for another term. To see more images of Betty, please click here: http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Pittsburgh-Magazine/October-2017/Betty-Esper-Photo-Essay/

One of my favorite moments from Blue Lapis Light performance of "Stardust" on the Highmark building in downtown Pittsburgh during the 2017 Three Rivers Arts Festival.