Tanya Russell is a visual storyteller working in Central Maine. Her compassion and curiosity guide her work as a portrait and documentary photographer. Tanya holds a Bachelor’s in Art from the University of Maine at Augusta and is passionate about visual storytelling, content marketing, and fitness. She recently completed the Professional Certificate Program in Visual Storytelling at Maine Media Workshops + College where she also worked as a teaching assistant. She now owns a photography business focused on promoting small businesses within her community.
Her time working in retail allows her to easily build rapport with people and develop meaningful relationships. This experience is beneficial in her work to get to know individuals and tell the stories about what is most important to them. For her, photography is about connection and community. The work she created this past year ranges from personal narrative to documentary projects. The underlying themes of these projects examine the obstacles people endure that often go unseen and the way people persevere in spite of them.
The impact of small businesses within her community motivated her desire to open a photography business geared towards promoting local small businesses. Being from a small town she recognizes the significance of personal connections, trust, and relationships, as well as the importance of messaging to community members.
She has shown documentary work at numerous exhibitions, local galleries, and art walks. This work includes a project exploring farm work at a midcoast CSA called Hope’s Edge Farm. The work explores use of motion, hard work, determination, friendship, and community. Her most recent exhibit was shown at the end of May in 2022, concluding the certificate program at Maine Media. This featured an autobiographical piece inspired by personal challenges with optics and perception that investigates the relationship between light and vision. This project is on display again at UMA's Danforth Gallery from May 9 to August 23, 2026 as part of the Black Box Warnings show.
Raven's Nest - Kallitype
Exhibitions (*solo)
Spring 2012-Present Artwalk Gardiner, Gardiner Main Street
Spring 2026 Black Box Warnings, Danforth Galley UMA
Summer 2022 Light Sensitive, Art Intersection
Summer 2022 Everything, Everywhere, Summer Member Show, Harlow Gallery
Spring 2021 Optical Physics Exhibition, Maine Media College
Fall 2018 *Hope’s Edge Farm, LensCulture
Spring 2017 *Motel Renovations, Berry’s Stationers
Spring 2017 *Thoughts of Spring, Berry’s Stationers
Winter 2015 Holiday Members Art Show and Sale, Harlow Gallery
Fall 2014 Kennebec Land Trust’s 25th Anniversary Show, Harlow Gallery
Fall 2013 Sit, Stay, Art, Harlow Gallery
Spring 2013 Art2013, The Annual Juried Art Show, Harlow Gallery
Fall 2012-2013 Campus Security, Exposé Exhibition UMA
Fall 2012 2012 Expressions Student Art Show, Danforth Gallery UMA
Fall 2012 UMA Fall Student Art Exhibition, Danforth Gallery UMA
Spring 2011 19 Tangents, 2011 Senior Art Exhibition UMA
Spring 2011 Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition, Danforth Gallery UMA
Fall 2010 Photoshop Can Cure Exhibition, Student Center UMA
Spring 2010 Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition, Danforth Galley UMA
Fall 2010 Commemorate, Veterans Day Exhibit UMA
Summer 2009 Project Pathology, Summer Traveling Show, Show Coordinator