Judy Gelles (b. 1947) is an American photographer and video artist known for her projects that explore social issues through the lens of children’s lives. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Gelles is most recognized for her series Fourth Grade, which documents children from diverse backgrounds across the globe by combining their portraits with their handwritten answers to personal questions. This project, along with others like Beach Girls, reveals universal truths about identity, class, and the emotional landscape of youth. Her work functions as a form of social documentation, with her photographs held in various permanent collections and exhibited internationally.
