Matelli Graves

Collection Highlights

Photography
Ohio, U.S.

Artist Development Fund recipient, 2021

See more of Matelli’s work on Adobe Stock

Photograph of Matelli Graves
Photograph of Matelli Graves

“Cornrows have been used in African culture for thousands of years to show status…now you’re seeing other cultures braiding their hair.”

Meet Matelli

Matelli Graves is a fashion and portrait photographer and cinematographer, based in Columbus, Ohio. Self-taught, he began shooting photos and video for friends, then decided to focus on a career in image-making. His work for clients such as Dior, Tommy Hilfiger, VSCO, ASOS, Henri Bendel, and others exudes confidence and cool.

For Adobe Stock, he focuses his lens on Black hair—specifically, cornrows. “Cornrows have been used in African culture for thousands of years to show status, then transition to holding food for Africans when they were transported to the States,” he says. “Now you’re seeing cornrows being used in fashion all over the world.” His project takes inspiration from the history, culture, and expressions of community through hair braiding and styling.

| matelligraves.com

See this portfolio on Adobe Stock

Meet the Artists

Meet the recipients of the Adobe Stock Artist Development Fund and see what they’re creating.

Maliha Abidi

Maliha Abidi

Illustration
California, U.S.

Daniel Adams

Daniel Adams

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Sophie Alp

Sophie Alp

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Toronto, Canada

Mecoh Bain

Mecoh Bain

Photography

Alberta, Canada

Mizuho Call

Mizuho Call

Illustration

Tennessee, U.S.

Carlos David

Carlos David

Photography

New York, U.S.

Ina Gouveia

Ina Gouveia

Illustration
Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Matelli Graves

Matelli Graves

Photography
Ohio, U.S.

Jerilyn Guerrero

Jerilyn Guerrero

Illustration
California, U.S.

Lynne Hardy

Lynne Hardy

Illustration

Utah, U.S.

Simi Jois

Simi Jois

Photography
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Monika Jurczyk

Monika Jurczyk

Illustration

Edinburgh, Scotland

Lochi Shaun Kalu

Lochi Shaun Kalu

Video

Lagos, Nigeria.

Oriana Koren

Oriana Koren

Photography​
Los Angeles, U.S.​

Kazuho Kurita

Kazuho Kurita

Photography
Kyoto, Japan.

Wiji Lacsamana

Wiji Lacsamana

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Carina Lindmeier

Carina Lindmeier

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Amanda Lobos

Amanda Lobos

Illustration
Vila Velha, Brazil.

Kei Mogari

Kei Mogari

Illustration
Tokyo, Japan.

Mumbi Muturi

Mumbi Muturi

Photography
Nairobi, Kenya.

Cole Ndelu

Cole Ndelu

Photography
Johannesburg, South Africa​

Anna Neubauer

Anna Neubauer

Photography

London, U.K.

Christina Nwabugo

Christina Nwabugo

Photography
London, UK.

Adaeze Okaro

Adaeze Okaro

Photography​
Abuja, Nigeria

Kentaro Osato

Kentaro Osato

Photography
Tokyo, Japan.

Phatthranit Osman

Phatthranit Osman

Illustration
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Michaela Oteri

Michaela Oteri

Illustration

Massachusetts, U.S.

Yuya Parker

Yuya Parker

Photography
Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Alp Peker

Alp Peker

Photography
Izmir, Turkey​

Adam Perez

Adam Perez

Photography

Los Angeles, U.S.

Danii Pollehn

Danii Pollehn

Illustration
Hamburg, Germany.

Shawn Pridgen

Shawn Pridgen

Photography

New York, U.S.

Shingi Rice

Shingi Rice

Photography
London, UK.

Christopher Robinson

Chris Robinson

Illustration

Texas, U.S.

Gerardo Rojas J.

Gerardo Rojas J.

Photography/Illustration​
Lima, Peru​

Amaal Said

Amaal Said

Photography
London, United Kingdom​

Ejatu Shaw

Ejatu Shaw

Photography​
London, United Kingdom​

Cheryl Thuesday

Cheryl Thuesday

Illustration
New York, U.S.

Hideo Tsuto

Hideo Tsuto

Photography

Tohoku, Japan

Andrea Vollgas

Andrea Vollgas

Illustration
Bern, Switzerland

Lisa Weatherbee

Lisa Weatherbee

Photography
New York, U.S.

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