Rodney Atienza is a photographer based in Philadelphia for over 25 years. After graduating from James Madison University, he worked at Project HOME, a non-profit organization combating the cycles of poverty and homelessness. Those experiences inspired him to pursue a career in photography documenting social issues, and the power & dignity of the human spirit.

His body of work includes several series of social justice movements such as homelessness and mental health, poverty, disability rights, and advocacy for nursing home residents and inner city youth. Professional exhibits include the solo exhibit “Footstompers: A Photographic Essay on a North Philadelphia Youth Drill Team” at Project HOME (1997) and inclusion in the group exhibit “Disabled Awareness Day” at the Equal Employment Center (2002). Rodney has also focused on documentation of Asian Americans in Philadelphia including Philadelphia’s Chinatown’s struggle against the proposed building of a baseball stadium in its neighborhood in 2000 and the interviewees of the Asian Arts Initiative’s Chinatown Oral History Project. Recent exhibits include Project-Based Learning in Philadelphia’s Public Schools for Need in Deed (2018).

His photographs have been printed in a number of publications. His work was featured in the book No Restraints: An Anthology of Disability Culture in Philadelphia (edited by Gil Ott, 2002), Chinatown Lives: Oral Histories from Philadelphia’s Chinatown (edited by Lena Sze, 2004), and Autumn Romance: Stories and Portraits of Love after 50 (photographs edited by Rodney Atienza, 2009). Rodney has worked for numerous commercial and non-profit clients, such as Need in Deed, the ALS Association Greater Philadelphia Chapter, New Sanctuary Movement, and the Women’s Community Revitalization Project.

While working diligently on photographic projects in the commercial and non-profit sector, Rodney is a cheerful-enthusiastic married father to two beautiful children. His favorite hobbies are playing Legos with his children, playing classical and jazz piano, and following US national-team soccer players domestically and abroad.