Mateusz Gryta is an emerging photographer whose primary focus lies in documenting the vanishing architectural heritage of developing countries and exploring the intricate relationships of colonial spaces with the current geopolitics. Raised in post-communist Poland during the transformative 1990s and 2000s, Mateusz witnessed the systematic degradation and loss of significant architectural landmarks driven by political agendas and economic interests. This experience inspired him to embark on a mission to preserve the legacies of architecture as crucial witnesses of history, capturing their narratives through a modern lens.
Mateusz graduated from the London College of Communication with a master's degree in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography in 2023. Currently, he splits his time between Poland and Portugal and uses a medium format camera as his main creative tool. Beyond his native country, Mateusz frequently undertakes projects abroad. His recent photographic explorations have delved into the vanishing heritage of the Portuguese Colonial Empire, traces of the Italian occupation in Ethiopia, Tunisia’s architectural landscapes, the colonial past and modern aspirations of India, and Soviet influences across the Caucasus. In his works, Mateusz blends his personal style of architectural photography with a documentary approach that emphasises the presence of people and captures their interactions with the spaces they found themselves in. Besides his practice, Mateusz also collaborates with architects and designers on commission based projects.
