Sandra Mickiewicz is a Polish documentary photographer who lives and works in North London. In 2007, her family immigrated to the United Kingdom. Inspired by people and their stories, Sandra works within various communities, portraying the ordinary and conventional moments of their otherwise unique lifestyles. In Proud of the Origin she captures the members of the Travellers minority living in the United Kingdom, underlining the essential fact that Travellers and Roma people are not their living stereotypes–but are people. In the United Kingdom, and across Europe, Travellers and Roma’s—what English speakers often call “Gypsies”–have been casually stigmatized, persecuted, and perceived by many as petty criminals and thieves for as long as they have been idealized as a romantic nomads.

Yet, while the lifestyles of Traveller and Roma people are indeed manifested in nomadism, each group is guided by their own distinct languages, cultural traditions, beliefs and customs that have been passed on through generations. Breaking these contemptuous stereotypes became the impassioned force of Sandra’s on-going series, “My aim is to capture the resolute, spirited nature of the people I have met and the pride they rightly feel towards their ancestry.” Through her work, Sandra hopes that she can contribute to changing the dominant point of view and thinking about Traveller communities. Most importantly, she adds, “I want the audience to realize that the subjects I photograph are valuable members of British society.”

- Alexa Fahlman

Sandra's ON IG