Under Glaviano’s leadership, PhotoVogue has become an industry-leading platform, curating a diverse pool of image-makers and exemplifying diversity behind the camera through a multitude of perspectives. In her expanded role, she continues to steer the platform into its future while overseeing its creative direction and driving key special projects.

The PhotoVogue Festival, launched in 2016, represents a pinnacle of Glaviano’s vision for the intersection of ethics and aesthetics in fashion photography. As the first conscious fashion photography festival tied to an influential fashion publication, the event has consistently addressed themes that are both ethically and aesthetically crucial – from the female gaze and issues of representation to inclusivity, masculinity, and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence in image-making. The festival has not only engaged the entire city of Milan with its talks, exhibitions, and photography-related initiatives but has also sparked global conversations about the role of imagery in society. The festival’s success across its eight editions (2016–2023) has cemented its place as a significant cultural event, attracting critical acclaim and public engagement alike.

Alessia Glaviano, the esteemed Head of Global PhotoVogue and Director of the PhotoVogue Festival, is a leading figure in international photographic criticism. Since joining Vogue Italia in 2001, Glaviano rapidly ascended from Photo Editor to Visual Director, where she played a crucial role in shaping the visual identity of the publication.

In early 2022, with the relaunch of PhotoVogue on a global scale, Glaviano’s role shifted to focus on leading PhotoVogue, collaborating with all editions of Vogue worldwide. This marked a significant expansion of PhotoVogue’s mission to include media in all forms, further establishing it as a platform that champions both emerging and established talent while influencing visual literacy to create a more just, ethical, and inclusive visual world. PhotoVogue’s open calls have been instrumental in launching the careers of notable photographers such as Nadine Ijewere, Luis Alberto Rodriguez, Kyle Weeks, Camila Falquez, Kennedi Carter, Scandebergs, and Mous Lamrabat, among others.

In addition to her editorial work, Alessia regularly lectures at esteemed institutions, including the United Nations, the University of Brighton, Central Saint Martins, IED, Bocconi University, and the Milan Polytechnic. She has also served on the juries of internationally acclaimed photography contests, including the World Press Photo, the Festival International de Mode et de Photographie à Hyères, and the Leica Oskar Barnack Award, and has participated in several prestigious portfolio review sessions, such as the New York Times Portfolio Reviews.