Jillian Abir MacMaster (b. 1995, she/her) is a Palestinian-American photographic artist from Frederick, Maryland. She holds a BFA in photography from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
Photo by Dave Wilson, Victorian Photography Studio Gettysburg
EXHIBITIONS *indicates solo
2025
Multitudes, International Arts and Artists at Hillyer, Washington, DC. Curated by Laila Abdul-Hadi Jadallah.
Duality, Frederick Book Arts Center and NoMa Gallery, Frederick, MD
*Shrouded: Cyanotypes by Jillian Abir MacMaster, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick, Frederick, MD
Expanded Cyanotypes: New Directions in Cyanotype Making, The Griffin Museum of Photography
Portraits of Those Who Inspire, Washington County Arts Council, Hagerstown, MD. Curated by Kristen Green.
Cumberland Valley Photographers Exhibition, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD.
Living Image, The Halide Project, Philadelphia, PA
2024
Cumberland Valley Photographers Exhibition, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD.
Allegany National Photography Competition and Exhibition, Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland, MD.
2023
*The Herbalist: Cyanotypes from Fox Haven Farm, Black Cat Studios/The Griffin, Frederick, MD
Visions of Love, The Luupe
Cumberland Valley Photographers Exhibition, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD. Curated by Leo Hsu.
2022
Photography Now, BlackRock Center for the Arts, Germantown, MD. Curated by Mehves Lelic.
*With Teeth, Delaplaine Arts Center, Frederick, MD
Lore, Gallery 115, Frederick MD. Curated by Rula Jones.
Goodbye Summer, Float Magazine, Curated by Roslyn Julia
Yearbook 2022, Shutter Hub
Seeing Red, Float Magazine, curated by Dana Stirling.
Planet A: Book Arts, BlackRock Center for the Arts, Germantown, MD. Curated by Rula Jones.
Allegany National Photography Competition and Exhibition, Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland, MD. Juried by David Oresick of the Silver Eye Center, Pittsburgh, PA.
Emerging Artists Exhibition, Delaplaine Arts Center, Frederick, MD. Juried by Lee Nowell-Wilson.
Fill Your Cup, Too Tired Project. Curated by Roslyn Julia.
Cumberland Valley Photographers Exhibition, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD. Juried by Dan Leers of the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA.
Photo, But Not Photo, Float Magazine, curated by Jennifer Marion & André Ramos-Woodard, editors of the space in between
2021 Favorite Photograph Exhibition, LENSCRATCH
2021
Blue Bounty, commissioned series for Firestone's Culinary Tavern, Frederick, MD*
How I See You, Float Magazine, curated by Karen Harvey of Shutter Hub
Virtual Realism,The Art History Babes
Movements, Moments, Torpedo Factory Target Gallery, Alexandria, VA
2020
A Show of Hands, Don't Take Pictures, donttakepictures.com
Phantasmagoria III, Jacoby Arts Center, Alton, IL
Community Stories, Frederick Arts Council, Frederick, MD. Work displayed on facade of building.
Mirror Image, Don't Take Pictures, donttakepictures.com
2019
Love, or Something Better: New Work by Ash Cheshire and Jillian Abir MacMaster, Engine Room Art Space, Hagerstown, MD
Paranormal Activity, Curated online exhibition, AINT-BAD.com
Allegany National Photography Competition & Exhibition, Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland, MD
2018
Where Should We Meet?, Curated online exhibition, AINT-BAD.com
Dirt Art Show & Zine, Engine Room Art Space, Hagerstown, MD
Uprooted, International Arts & Artists' at Hillyer (formerly Hillyer Art Space), Washington, D.C.
*Majesty, The Delaplaine, Frederick, MD
The Mid-Atlantic Analog Photographers Group Show: Portraits, The Delaplaine, Frederick, MD
Presence: Queer Youth, New Spire Arts, Frederick, MD
*Mechanical Wasteland, The Frederick Coffee Company and Cafe, Frederick, MD
Photo of the Day, Don't Take Pictures, donttakepictures.com
She/They, Area 31, Frederick, MD
Portraits 2018, The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO
2017
The Mid-Atlantic Analog Photographers Group Show, Area 31, Frederick, MD
Pop Art at the Pineapple, The Green Pineapple, Shepherdstown, WV
Natural State, Engine Room Art Space, Hagerstown, MD
Scanography: The Art of Scanning, Niza Knoll Gallery, Denver, CO
Sans Merci Release Party Juried Exhibition, Shepherdstown, WV
Student Honors Exhibition, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV
Visual Arts Collective: Energy and Movement, Engine Room Art Space, Hagerstown, MD
2016
National Juried Photography Exhibition, The Delaplaine, Frederick, MD
Flesh + Bone II, Hillyer Art Space, Washington, DC
Student Honors Exhibition, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV
Sans Merci Release Party Juried Exhibition, Shepherdstown, WV
2015
Sans Merci Release Party Juried Exhibition, Shepherdstown, WV
HONORS & AWARDS
2024
First Place Color Photography Award, Allegany National Photography Competition and Exhibition, Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland, MD.
2023
Best in Show, Cumberland Valley Photographers Exhibition, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD
2022
Newspaper Club Yearbook 2022 Award, Newspaper Club and Shutter Hub, UK
Creativity Grant Award, Maryland State Arts Council, Baltimore, MD
FAC/NEA Create and Activate Now Recover Award, Frederick Arts Council, Frederick, MD
Third Place Color Photography Award, Allegany National Photography Competition & Exhibition, Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland, MD
Best in Show, Cumberland Valley Photographers Exhibition, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD
2021
Work selected as cover for Delaplaine Arts Magazine summer issue by the Delaplaine Arts Center, Frederick, MD
2020
Awarded full tuition scholarship, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass Village, CO
2019
First Place Prize Winner for Color Photography, Allegany National Photography Competition & Exhibition, Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland, MD
2017
Outstanding Senior in Photography, presented by Shepherd University
2016
Work selected as cover for Sans Merci Literary and Art Magazine by Shepherd University
2015
Best Art Award, Sans Merci Literary and Art Magazine, presented by Shepherd University
ART SERVICES
2025
Co-curator, Embodied: Intersectional Experiences of Womanhood, curated with Jamie Gerhold and Laila Abdul-Hadi Jadallah, City Hall, Frederick, MD
2023
Visiting artist talk, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV
2022
Visiting artist talk, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV
Curator, Infinite Growth, Frederick Arts Council, Frederick, MD
Panelist for Arts in Education Grant, Maryland State Arts Council
2021
"Visiting Voices" Guest Label Writer for The Secret Paris of the 1930s: Vintage Photographs by Brassaï at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD
Panelist for Independent Artist Awards, Maryland State Arts Council
2018-2021
Guest Critic for Graphic Design Program Portfolio Review, Hagerstown Community College, Hagerstown, MD
2020
Juror of "Women and Nature," Maryland State Arts Council
2017
Guest Artist Talk, Middletown High School, Middletown, MD
FEATURES & NEWS
2023
Fraction Magazine, Issue 164
Power, Vulnerability, & the Etherial: Jillian Abir MacMaster - This is Not My Magnum Opus Podcast
2022
Photographer Jillian Abir MacMaster turns the camera on herself...- 72 Hours, Frederick News Post
2021
Virtual Realism Talks w/ Morgane Clément-Gagnon and Jillian Abir MacMaster - The Art History Babes Podcast
Portfolio Feature - Float Magazine
Gallery: "Movements, Moments" at the Torpedo Factory Arts Center - Metro Weekly
In the Galleries: A Focus on the Intersection of Art and Movement - The Washington Post
2019
Love, or Something Better - Frederick News Post
Love, or Something Better - What Is Frederick?
PUBLICATIONS
2024
Sinister Wisdom 2025 Calendar: Out Dykes, Outside!
2023
Lady+ Hell, Acadia Kandora
Rural Queerness, Soft Lightning Studio. Edited by Julie Rae Powers.
2022
Yearbook 2022, Shutter Hub
2017
Sparks Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Works, Shepherd University
Sans Merci Yearly Juried Literary and Art Magazine, Shepherd University: 2015 - 2017
