Martha Rial

Martha Rial is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist based in Pittsburgh.

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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. 

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Another collaboration with Postindustrial Magazine was a follow up with refugees from Afghanistan nearly after their arrival in the United States. You can read their stories and see additional images here tinyurl.com/bde7xd25 and here tinyurl.com/2p93529r .

#afghanistan #refugees #pittsburgh #postindustrial 

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New United States citizens take the citizenship oath during a monthly Naturalization Hearing at U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh.

Bhutanese refugee Bishnu Gurung serves coffee to visitors at her home. 

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/

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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. 

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Beyond the Ceiling: Sharpsburg  Part 2

My last two temporary photography murals featuring longtime residents Evelyn Shoop and Barbara Smith were unveiled last month in Sharpsburg. 

Evelyn Shoop - on display at 101 N. Main Street 

Barbara Smith - on display at Linden Gymnasium (corner of Clay and Canal Streets) 

I’m sad to share Barbara Smith passed away two weeks after I made her portrait for the mural. She was 88-years-old. 

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. 

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Action.Movement.Revolution exhibition at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild.

My images of refugees in Greece and of Congolese refugees in Pittsburgh I made in fall 2018 are now on display at MCG through April 5. 

Hayat, a young Somali refugee, sought safety on Greek island of Chios with her two sisters and mother after her father was murdered by the Al-Shaab. 

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

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Jack Buncher Foundation

I was commissioned in 2012 to document Jack Buncher Foundation’s extensive philanthropy for a permanent installation at their Pittsburgh headquarters. The following images featured just a few of the numerous non-profits Bernita Buncher has generously supported over the years. The installation features more than 50 photographs. 

Pittsburgh Public Schools students attend Pittsburgh Opera’s Cinderella. 

Free “Friendly Fire Fridays” at Fort Ligonier. 

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

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Beyond the Ceiling: Sharpsburg

 My first three photography murals were unveiled in Sharpsburg, PA in October 2018. Sharpsburg is a riverfront town with an industrial past near Pittsburgh.

The murals feature local women who have overcome the odds and are role models for their neighbors. Two more murals will be unveiled in spring 2019. 

My subjects were nominated by the community. We received more than 50 nominations. 

Beyond the Ceiling: Sharpsburg was made possible with funding from The Heinz Endowments. My partner for this project is the Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization. 

Jamie Cozza - Circulation Assistant, Sharpsburg Library 

Installation at 702 Main Street, Sharpsburg. 

Sharpsburg Volunteer Firefighters 

Installed at 16611 Main Street, Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Department

Unveiling of Mary Jayne Kozlowski’s mural at the corner of 8th Street and Clay Street. Kozlowski is the outreach coordinator at Roots of Faith. 

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

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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. 

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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

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

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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.  

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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.

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Beyond the Ceiling: Remy

My portraits of Remy McIntyre, Wilkinsburg High School’s last valedictorian, are now a mural on display on the rear wall of 908 Wood Street, Wilkinsburg 15221

My goal is to create additional murals of Pittsburgh women who are unsung heroes and role models in their communities. Learn more about Remy here: 

https://beyondtheceiling.tumblr.com

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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/

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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.