JAZZ IS NOW

ABOUT ME

Adriana Mateo is an award-winning jazz photographer, documentarian, and storyteller. Originally from Buenos Aires and residing in New York City since 1990, she was honored with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award in Jazz Photography and the 2019 Photographer of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association.

Inspired by her father's filmmaking career, Adriana transitioned from feature films to focus her lens on jazz, notably serving as the personal photographer for NEA Jazz Masters Jimmy Heath, Cedar Walton, and Roy Hargrove. Her foundational project, AM JAZZ: Three Generations Under My Lens, is a comprehensive archive spanning over two decades of jazz history and is preserved in permanent museum collections. She holds the distinction of being the first female contemporary jazz photographer to have her work in a museum collection.

"My inspiration stems from the unspoken connection between musician and audience. I aim to freeze that profound emotion of a live performance, so its spirit can be felt long after the final note fades."

AWARDS

2024 - Lifetime Achievement Award in Jazz Photography, Jazz Journalists Association, USA.

2019 - Best Photographer of the Year & Photo of the Year, Jazz Journalists Association.

2019 - Finalist, World Jazz Photo Competition, Prague, Czech Republic (Awarded with Exhibition).

EXHIBITIONS

2025- ASOCIACION PESTALOZZI, Educational Exhibit”, Buenos Aires, Argentina: AM Jazz “Three generations Under The Lens”: This is an educational exhibition, the "Pestalozzi Association" , an Argentine prestigious educational institution rooted in the pedagogical ideas of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi who was a Swiss pedagogue known for his focus on education for developing teaching methods that sought the holistic development of children.

2024 - ESPACIO HUSSEK ART GALLERY, Buenos Aires, Argentina: SOLO EXHIBIT “NEW YORK JAZZ GENERATIONS.”

2023 - BEBOP JAZZ CLUB, Buenos Aires, Argentina: SOLO EXHIBITION OF ROY HARGROVE “Una Mirada.”

2019 - FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE JAZZ DE PUNTA DEL ESTE, Uruguay: Exhibition & book presentation in South America.

2018 - BAYERISCHEN-HOF HOTEL, Munich, Germany: Solo exhibition.

2018 - MUSEO di PALAZZO della PENNA, Perugia Umbria, Italy: Solo exhibition.

2017 - MUSEUM PALAZZO DELLA PENNA, Perugia, Italy: "L'Immagine del Suono” exhibition.

2017 - WBGO Jazz Public Radio from the Jazz Capital of the World, New York City, USA: "AM JAZZ Three Generations Under The Lens" exhibition.

2016 - NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL, Newport, USA: AM JAZZ “Three Generations Under The Lens" book presentation.

2016 - THE JAZZ GALLERY, New York, USA: "AM JAZZ Three Generations Under The Lens" book release and exhibition.

2015 - PALAZZO MORONI, COMUNE DI PADOVA, Padova, Italy: "AM JAZZ Three Generations Under The Lens" book release and exhibition.