Donna De Cesare

Donna De Cesare is a photojournalist, born in New York and now based in England.  Her insight into gang culture across America, especially L.A and San Salvador has won her many awards and has had her work featured in  news and arts publications including The New York Times magazine, Life, DoubleTake, Aperture and Mother Jones.  De Cesare is also a video journalist and documentary producer.

"Recognized as an expert on issues of youth identity and gang violence, DeCesare has worked as a consultant to UNICEF both as a photographer/reporter and in helping to develop the protocols for representation of at-risk children and youth which UNICEF now promotes globally. She is also on the Executive Board of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma."

Her photographs are ruthlessly raw, they are a reality check and one of the most detailed insights into this gang culture and warfare that is happening in L.A and San Salvador.

Edgar's Story is a recent project by De Cesare, she introduces the series of narrative photographs with this short statement; "As a child Edgar witnessed the brutality of Salvadorian death squads.  In LA he grew up in a world of gangs.  Later he found his destiny, in the streets of San Salvador."

De Cesare showed a travelling exhibition called Hijos del Destino: Youth Violence in the Americas in May 26, 2005 at The Atrium, London School of Economics, London.