Ruth Prieto Arenas is a documentary photographer that works on long-term projects and commissions for publications worldwide. Her work has been published in various prestigious outlets such as the New York Times Lens blog, Burn Magazine, Ojo de Pez, Lat Photo Magazine, Univision, Dior Magazine, among other magazines and books. 

Ruth's journey in photography began after completing her Bachelor of Science in Communication and her initial studies in photography in Mexico City. She then went on to pursue an internship in the Cultural Research department at Magnum Photos in New York before enrolling at the International Center of Photography where she graduated from the Documentary and Photojournalism Program.

Her work Safe Heaven, focused primarily on the lives of Mexican which earned her a fellowship from the prestigious Magnum Foundation. Ruth's work has been exhibited internationally in galleries and museums, showcasing her innate ability to capture and depict the essence of human emotions and stories.  She primarily uses her analogue medium format camera to work and connect deeply with the people she photographs. 

Currently she is working on a long-term project that explores grief, loss, and resilience.Ruth lives and works in Berlin and Mexico City.

2011 - 2012        Documentary Certificate at the International Center of Photography, NY.

2007 - 2009    Photography Escuela Activa de Fotografía Mexico City

2006 - 2007    Bachelor of Arts at Macquarie University, Sydney

2003 - 2007   Bachelor of Arts in Communication 

2023 (upcoming May), ''Safe Heaven", GallerieNeoArt, Berlin, Germany. 

2023, “Essential Work”, Berman Museum, Philadelphia, USA.

2023, IN WAVES womenincovid, Bremerhaven, Bremen, Germany. 

2022, IN WAVES womenincovid, Stadt Bremen, Bremen, Germany. 

2022, IN WAVES womenincovid, Goethe Institut Estonia /Tallinn, Estonia. 

2022, IN WAVES womenincovid, KulturBäckerei, Lueneburg, Germany.

2021, IN WAVES womenincovid, Köpenicker Str. 70 /Berlin, GER

2016, Women In Photography,” Objectifs gallery in Singapore from October 19 - November 20. 

2016, Trama Centroamericana, Casa América Catalunya, Barcelona, España. 

2015, “Border Identity” LH Horton Jr Gallery, San Joaquin Delta College, Delta Center for the Arts, Stockton, California, USA, November 19 - December 11. 

2015, Trama Centroamericana, PhotoEspaña, Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, Madrid, España. 

2014,  Miradas: Contemporary Mexican Photographers, Bronx Documentary Center,New York. 

2014, Photography nights, “Le Blue du Ciel”, Lyon, France. 

2013,  China Pingyao International Photo Festival Group Exhibition, China. 

2013, "Safe Heaven" , New America Foundation, Soho, New York, NY.

2013, "La Ruta", “Safe heaven”,  IBEW Local 3 Headquarters, Flushing, New York, NY. 

2013, "La Ruta" , Safe heaven”,The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, New York, NY.  

2013, "La Ruta", Safe heaven”, Magnum Foundation, UFT Bronx Borough Office, New York, NY.  

2012, "Occupy", International Center of Photography, Governors Island, New York, NY.  

2012 "My Truth, Your truth", International Center of Photography, New York, NY.  

2012 "We are Champions", Lazarus Gallery, United Hebrews of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, New York.

Dior Magazine, “From Mexico to Dior”, Mexican Photographers. Winter issue, 2018.

PHE15, Latinamerican Photography, PhotoEspaña,2015. Spain.

Gerardo Montiel Klint, “Una fotografía que quema” (Photography that burns”). Tierra Adentro, no. 208, October 2015, México. 

Univisión Noticias, “Mujeres que tienen un Cielo Seguro”, 15 October, 2015. Spain 

 “Le donne venute dal passato”,Visual Storytelling, Marla Rivista, no.4, printed 2014. Italy. 

In Color, the Waitresses in a Restaurant for Lonely Men, New York Times Lens Blog, May, 2013.  

Safe Heaven (Cielo Seguro), Burn Magazine, publicado el May, 2013. 

Lat Magazine, Safe Heaven, “Sangre”,2013. 

Ojo de Pez, España,  Portfolios, Relative Normative, no.33, printed 2013. 

New York Photo Stories, International Center of Photography and Ostkreuzschule für Fotografie, Berlin, february,  2013. 

Order, Disorder, Shift Book, vol. 7, International Center of Photography, NY, June, 2012. 

Cuando quiere llorar no llora. Revista Picnic, para mentes insaciables, (Junio, 2010)

Macula Fanzine . Julio 2010. 

Publicación en Antología Poética “Hasta Agotar la Existencia III”. Editorial Resitencia, 2007. 

Tloque Nahuaque. Poesía, 2001

Athens Foto Festival, 2012, Shortlisted. 

Emergency Fund Fellowship 2013, Magnum Foundation.

Nominated for Joop Swart Masterclass 2013. 

Fotovisura Spotlight Grant Honorable Mention , 2013. 

Lucie Foundation Emerging Scholarship Shortlisted , 2013.

New York Times Portfolio Review 2013