Cristina Mittermeier

Cristina Mittermeier is one of the most influential artists in the field of conservation photography.

Discover the life, most significant photographic projects, and must-see exhibitions of the artist Cristina Mittermeier.

Cristina Goettsch Mittermeier, “Mitty,” was born in Mexico City in 1966 and grew up in nearby Cuernavaca, in the sunny state of Morelos. Hailed as one of the most influential conservation photographers of our time, she has dedicated her entire life to protecting the world’s oceans, inspiring millions of people to do the same. She believes that stunning visual storytelling is the key to unlocking critical action to help heal our ocean and save our planet.

Mittermeier pursued an early passion for marine biology and graduated from the ITESM University in Mexico with a degree in Biochemical Engineering in Marine Sciences. She embarked on countless expeditions to study and document marine ecosystems worldwide and, during these journeys, witnessed the alarming decline of our oceans due to

• overfishing
• pollution
• climate change

She later attended the Fine Art Photography program at the Corcoran College for the Arts in Washington, D.C. In 2005, she founded The International League of Conservation Photographers, coining the phrase “conservation photography,” and in 2014, she co-founded SeaLegacy, a global conservation, education, and communication agency for the ocean.

She has three adult children, John, Michael, and Juliana, who are passionate about nature.

She lives on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada.

Driven by a desire to make a difference, Mittermeier recognizes the transformative potential of photography as a means to raise awareness and inspire action.

She has received many prestigious awards, including

• The Smithsonian Conservation Photographer of the Year Award
• The Imaging Award for Photographers Who Give Back
• The Humanity Photography Content Creator Award from HIPA
• The Humanitarian Award in Photography from the Lucie Foundation.

In 2022, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, honoris causa, from Simon Fraser University and appears in both Photographer and Welcome to Earth on Disney+.

Mittermeier was named one of the 100 Latinos Most Committed to Climate Action and has been named one of the World’s Top 50 Keynote Speakers.

Mittermeier’s body of work spans all seven continents, showcasing breathtaking landscapes, endangered wildlife, and the connection between indigenous communities and their natural surroundings. Her legacy is a powerful reminder that we can safeguard our oceans through storytelling and collective action for future generations.

Following its successful presentations at Gallerie d’Italia in Turin (14 March to 1 September 2024) and at the Galleria d’Arte Moderna in Palermo (7 March to 2 June 2025), Cristina Goettsch Mittermeier’s photographs were exhibited at Gallerie d’Italia in Vicenza. Presented in collaboration with National Geographic, the exhibition Cristina Mittermeier. A Greater Wisdom, on view from 3 October 2025 to 6 April 2026, celebrated the work of the renowned Mexican photographer through visually striking and emotionally powerful images that encourage reflection on some of today’s most pressing environmental issues.

Continuing its successful journey, the exhibition Cristina Mittermeier. A Greater Wisdom was subsequently presented at the Grande Miglio exhibition spaces within the Castle of Brescia, where it was on view from 14 July 2026 to 10 January 2027.