Matilde Simas is an award-winning Azorean photographer, filmmaker, and Executive Director of Capture Humanity. She also serves as the Creative Art Director for the Limb Kind Foundation, where she combines her artistic vision and storytelling expertise to raise global awareness about the challenges faced by individuals with limb loss and the transformative power of access to prosthetic care. With a background in psychology and women’s studies from Suffolk University and advanced training in digital photography at the Rhode Island School of Design, Matilde brings a unique perspective to her work, guided by a trauma-informed approach that emphasizes documenting strength and dignity within vulnerable communities.
Her landmark project, From Shadows to Light: A Global Journey Through the Aftermath of Trafficking, spans seven countries, exploring survivors’ journeys of healing, recovery, and reintegration, while her latest documentary, Woman Rising, highlights the strength of American survivors of trafficking.
As a creative visionary, Matilde extends her influence beyond photography. At the Limb Kind Foundation, she plays a pivotal role in crafting compelling visual narratives and campaigns, fostering global awareness, and action.
Matilde’s impactful imagery has been prominently featured in influential platforms, including the U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report and policy research publications in Kenya. Her work has been exhibited internationally, showcased by organizations such as UNICEF and United Nations agencies.
For inquiries, licensing requests, or to reach Matilde directly, please email her at ms@matildesimas.com or call 617-750-1182
IPA | Suri tribe from West Omo Valley, Ethiopia | 2nd People\ Traditions \Culture
PX3 Prix de la Photographie de Paris | South Sudanese Refugee Mothers | State of the World Curator Selection
Festival of Ethical Photography | Let me be Brave: Stories of Limb Loss | Nonprofit World Shortlist
Tokyo International Foto Awards | Hidden from Society | Gold — people/children
Tokyo International Foto Awards | Children with a Disability Hidden from Society |HM — editorial/ photo essay
Tokyo International Foto Awards | The Forgotten | HM — people/portrait
US Department of Justice | Represent Resilience: Learning from Yesterday, Building a Stronger Tomorrow Art Award
Lucie Foundation International Photography Award 2020| In Shadow: Child Trafficking | Silver —Social Cause
PX3 Prix de la Photographie de Paris | Philippines: Children Living in Perpetual Invisibility | State of the World Prize
PX3 Prix de la Photographie de Paris | The Truth about Albinism in Annual Report | Bronze
PX3 Prix de la Photographie de Paris Philippines: Children Living in Perpetual Invisibility in Press/FeaturePress/Feature Story
PX3 Prix de la Photographie de Paris | South Sudan’s Child Soldier | HM — Portraiture/Other
Moscow International Foto Award | Dead Vlei Trees | Gold — Nature / Trees
Black & White Magazine l Student in Medan, Indonesia |Children's Portrait Winner
2019
Tokyo International Foto Awards | Human Trafficking Philippines | Silver —Editorial Personality
UNICEF Photo of the Year | Human Trafficking in the Philippines HM
Lucie Foundation International Photo Award | Living with Albinism | Silver — Social Cause
PX3 Prix de la Photographie de Paris | FGM | State of the World Prize
PX3 Prix de la Photographie de Paris | Maasai Custom: FGM |Siver — Annual Reports
2018
International Color Awards | Wildlife, Male orangutan
International Color Awards | People, Maasai Custom: FGM
Lucie Foundation International Photography Award | FGM | Gold — Social Cause
Lucie Foundation International Photography Award | Culture + Traditions | HM —FGM
Tokyo International Foto Awards | Faces Behind Atrocity | Bronze — Book
Tokyo International Foto Awards | Maasai Custom: FGM | Bronze — People
2017
Lucie Foundation International Photo Award | Faces Behind Atrocity | Silver — Social Cause
PX3 Prix de la Photographie de Paris | Faces Behind Atrocity | HM
Black and White Magazine | Portfolio Award
Black and White Magazine | Portfolio Award
COLLECTIONS
Atlas of Humanity | South Sudanese Refugees in Uganda, Milan, Paris, South Africa
ARTWORKS for Freedom | Faces Behind Atrocity, Washington, DC
Boston Children’s Hospital | International Gallery | Collection | Boston, MA
EXHIBITS
Atlas of Humanity | Soho Photo Gallery, 15 White Street, NYC March 2023
Julie Margaret Cameron Exhibition | FotoNostrum Gallery, Barcelona April-May, 2023
OMO VALLEY PORTRAITS Solo Exhibition | Bridge Gallery, Cambridge, MA January 2023
ACTION | PHOTO IS:RAEL International Photography Festival, Tel-Aviv, Isreal Nov. 2022
Atlas of Humanity | Foro Buonaparte 67, MILANO, Oct. 7-30th 2022
The Portrait | Praxis Gallery, Minneapolis, MI July 16- 30th 2022
Atlas of Humanity | Galerie Joseph Le Marais Paris, May 2022
WORLD VIEW | Bridge Gallery, Cambridge, MA January 2022
Represent Resilience: Learning from Yesterday, Building a Stronger Tomorrow gallery | Washington DC, 2020
Atlas of Humanity | Galerie Joseph Le Marais Paris, France, 2019
Engine Gallery |Solo Exhibition |Biddeford, ME, December- January 2019
SDN Bronx Documentary Center | Group Exhibition | NYC, 2018
University of New Hampshire | Solo Exhibition | Durham, NH, 2018
Kenya National Archives at UNODC | Solo exhibition | Nairobi, Kenya, 2017
Kenya National Archives at IOM | Solo exhibition | Nairobi, Kenya, 2017
Art to End Slavery at KOBO Trust | Group exhibition | Nairobi, Kenya, 2017
BOOKS
Online and Print Publications
US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report | Introduction, Page 15, 33, 38, 43, 58, 65, 82 | June 2022
METRO UK | Sold for sex and slavery: The girls and young woman learning to live after trafficking | Jan 2023
ZEKE| Documentary Magazine | September 2022
DOCU Magazine | An American Story of Human Trafficking | June 2022
US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report | Introduction, Page 7, 13, 32, 42, 2022
Bringing Trafficking Survivors Out of the Shadows | Sarah Ferguson, UNICEF USA, March 5, 2021
Helping Trafficking Survivors Out Of The Shadows | Sarah Ferguson, Forbes, March 8, 2021
ARTWORKS for Freedom Artist Alliance | Kacie LeCompte Renfro, Artworks January 2021Hidden: Retratos de Escravatura dos tempos Modernos | Ana Marques Maia, P3 July 2020
How to tell Ethical and Empowering Stories | Darshel Diaz, PWB Magazine July 2020
A look through the lens of a humanitarian photographer | Jessica Barrett, World Footprints July 202
Matilde Simas is Called to Listen to Survivors | Amanda Arnold, PPA Magazine June 2020
COVID-19: The Story of Women Refugees in Uganda | Livanya Gramoney, Reclamation Magazine | May 2020
The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association Almanac | Jan. 2020
Bringing Mobility to the Philippines | Jessica Barret, World Footprints Oct. 2019
Saving a Species: Palm Oil, Orangutans | Jessica Barrett, World Footprints July 2019
Bringing Atrocities out of the Shadows | Terry Date, The Eagle Tribune Jan. 3, 2019
Bringing Atrocities out of the Shadows | Terry Date, The ANDOVERS Magazine, Winter 2019
Roads to Recovery | Elena Stanciu, PETRIe Manifesto 2019
Shedding Light on Human Trafficking | Jeannie Pearson, PWB Magazine | Jan. 2019
Human Trafficking in Kenya: A nonprofit Takes Aim | Jessica Barrett, World Footprints October 17, 2018
Cover: Cape Cod Magazine Lighthouse Media Solutions, September 2018
Down on the Farm | Lisa Cavanaugh, Cape Cod Magazine, 2018
‘Spotlight: Matilde Simas’ | Chisty Au-Yeung, PWB Magazine | April 2018
‘UNMASKED’ | Amanda Arnold, Professional Photographer Magazine | September 2017
‘A Day in The Life of an Anti-Poaching Ranger’ | Amy Baird, The Guardian | July 2017
FILM AWARDS
Best Short Documentary Docs Without Borders Film Festival, 2018
Outstanding Excellence in Social Issues Docs Without Borders Film Festival, 2018
Official Selection, DC Web Festival, 2018
Judge's Choice Award, Human Trafficking Film Festival, 2018
People's Choice Award, Human Trafficking Film Festival, 2018
Official Selection, Toronto Feedback Film Festival, 2018