Bio
Stephen Iliffe is a deaf photographer. His intimate portraits and stories celebrate Britain’s deaf community.
Stephen’s Deaf Mosaic project features over 110 portraits that challenge the general public with an urgent message: It is not deafness that disables people but the barriers in hearing society that often frustrates our dreams.
“After I graduated in photography in 1984, I applied for over 50 jobs and didn't get a single interview,” says Stephen.
“‘Your photography is great, but we can't employ someone who's unable to use a telephone,’ was one of the many excuses they gave.”
“It was shattering to have so many doors slammed in my face. I gave up on the idea of photography as a career.”
“Fast forward 40 years later, I started my Deaf Mosaic project. Since then it has hosted 16 exhibitions at high-profile arts venues – such as London South Bank’s OXO Gallery – alongside pop-up events in schools and community centres.”
In 2023, Deaf Mosaic exhibited for four weeks at Europe’s largest outdoor gallery at London’s Kings Cross, seen by over a million people.
In 2024, it launched the world’s first hospital-based exhibition of deaf role models at University College London Hospitals.
Stephen’s portrait of Lawand Hamadamin was shown at the world-famous National Portrait Gallery.
Stephen’s work has a global appeal. The Deaf Mosaic online gallery has enjoyed over 38,500 visitors from 142 countries.
He also collaborates with the deaf communities in Barbados and Uzbekistan.
Stephen is dynamic public speaker. He has appeared on BBC News and Sky News, and given 32 talks to influential bodies – such as the House of Commons, the Royal Collection and Francis Crick Institute.