# Ricky Maynard

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Tasmanian documentary photographer

Ricky Martin Born 1953 (1953) Occupation Photographer Notable work The Moonbird People Portrait of a Distant Land

**Ricky Maynard** (born 1953[1]) is an [Aboriginal Tasmanian](/source/Aboriginal_Tasmanians) [documentary photographer](/source/Documentary_photography).

## Early life

Maynard was born in [Launceston](/source/Launceston%2C_Tasmania) and his ancestry is of the [Ben Lomond](/source/Ben_Lomond_(Tasmania)) and [Cape Portland](/source/Cape_Portland) peoples.[2] He moved to [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne) at 16 after being recruited to play for [Hawthorn Football Club](/source/Hawthorn_Football_Club). After working as a [darkroom](/source/Darkroom) assistant, he became interested in photography. In 1983, he became a trainee photographer at [Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies](/source/Australian_Institute_of_Aboriginal_and_Torres_Strait_Islander_Studies). While examining archival photographs of [Aboriginal Australians](/source/Aboriginal_Australians) in this role, Maynard became troubled by common misrepresentation and negative depictions.[3]

## Career

Maynard developed a visual style influenced by American documentary photographers of the [Great Depression era](/source/Great_Depression_in_the_United_States) such as [Paul Strand](/source/Paul_Strand) and [Walker Evans](/source/Walker_Evans), and began documenting [Aboriginal Australians](/source/Aboriginal_Australians) with a humanitarian lens.[1] Many of his works have documented [Aboriginal culture](/source/Australian_Aboriginal_culture) and social issues.[1]

His 1985-1988 work *The Moonbird People*, which focused on [muttonbirding](/source/Muttonbirding) in the [Furneaux islands](/source/Furneaux_Group), garnered him international attention and a grant to study at the [International Center of Photography](/source/International_Center_of_Photography).[1][2]

In the 1990s, he created a series *No More Than What You See*, which featured portraits of Aboriginal people in four different prisons in [South Australia](/source/South_Australia).[3] He visited [Yatala Labour Prison](/source/Yatala_Labour_Prison), Northfield Prison Complex, [Port Augusta Prison](/source/Port_Augusta_Prison), and [Cadell Training Centre](/source/Cadell_Training_Centre), developing friendships with inmates to build trust. The series was in response to the publication of the [Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody](/source/Royal_Commission_into_Aboriginal_Deaths_in_Custody).[1][3]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_1-4) Inglis, Rob (4 May 2024). ["Ricky Maynard: Tasmanian Aboriginal photographer on his unique process, quest for truth"](https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/ricky-maynard-tasmanian-aboriginal-photographer-on-his-unique-process-quest-for-truth/news-story/1735bf8ccb8f6372beacd22c0471bb32). *[The Mercury](/source/The_Mercury)*.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_2-1) Munro, Keith (2023). ["Ricky Maynard: Picturing Survival"](https://artcollector.net.au/collectors-dossier-ricky-maynard/). *Art Collector Magazine*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:2_3-2) ["Thirty years ago Ricky went inside prisons to capture the faces of Indigenous incarceration. He never forgot them"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-13/ricky-maynard-aboriginal-prisoner-exhibition/102698638). *ABC News*. 2023-08-13. Retrieved 2025-11-25.

## External links

- [Ricky Maynard](https://www.portrait.gov.au/people/ricky-maynard-1953) at the [National Portrait Gallery](/source/National_Portrait_Gallery_(Australia))

- [Ricky Maynard](https://www.mca.com.au/collection/artists/ricky-maynard/) at the [Museum of Contemporary Art Australia](/source/Museum_of_Contemporary_Art_Australia)

v t e Aboriginal anthropology in Tasmania Aboriginal Tasmanians Dolly Dalrymple Wauba Debar Daniel Geale William Lanne Luggenemenener Mannalargenna Michael Mansell Ricky Maynard Fanny Cochrane Smith Towterer Truganini Woureddy Tasmanian tribes Toogee Aboriginal history Black War Cape Grim massacre 1828 Proclamation of Demarcation Wybalenna Aboriginal Establishment Tasmanian languages Northern–Western Tommeginne Port Sorell Peerapper Toogee Northeastern Pyemmairre Tyerrernotepanner "Norman" "Lhotsky/Blackhouse" Eastern Little Swanport Paredarerme Nuenonne Bruny Island Constructed palawa kani See also: List of Indigenous Australian group names By state or territory New South Wales Northern Territory Queensland South Australia Tasmania Victoria Western Australia

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