Lisette Poole González is a Cuban and Sicilian American photographer, writer, and filmmaker born and raised in San Francisco. She is a native English and Spanish speaker.
Her interdisciplinary work explores the inextricable relationship between identity and place, weaving personal and cultural narratives that reflect themes of resilience and belonging. As a storyteller, she collaborates with teams to create immersive work that conveys immediacy and authenticity through bold visuals. Her work with stills and motion portrays raw intimacy. Lisette’s extensive journalistic experience allows her to work efficiently and problem-solve.
Her first book, "La paloma y la ley" (Red Hook Editions, 2019) was named in TIME’s Best Photobooks — the book and 24 limited-edition prints from the project are in the permanent collection at the United States Library of Congress.
She has photographed Latinx artists like Christian Nodal, for the cover of Billboard, Bomba Estéreo, Rawayana, C. Tangana, J. Balvin, and Tokischa. Her documentary Reggaetón Revolución, about Cuba’s underground music scene, was recognized by the World Press Global Talent Program. She is a recipient of the National Geographic Fund for Journalists for her podcast with Vice News Reports.
Lisette exhibited her work during Mexico City Art Week 2024 for her first solo exhibition, Te Amo. She has spoken at universities and presented her work worldwide.
Previously, Lisette lived in Havana, covering the island for international publications from 2014-2019.
She loves to dance.
FELLOWSHIPS:
2024 Rutgers University, Center for Migration, Curriculum Development Residency, U.S.A.
2021 National Geographic Society Fund for Journalists, Grant Recipient
2020 Google Cuba, Educational Curriculum Development Grant Recipient
2017 Carey Institute for Global Good, Logan Nonfiction Fellow
2017 International Women’s Media Foundation, Adelante Fellow
2017 Norwegian Embassy of Cuba, Exhibition & Screening, Fellow
AWARDS:
2020 World Press Photo 6x6 Global Talent for North America
2019 TIME’s Best Photobooks of the Year
2019 Pictures of the Year International finalist Photobooks of the Year
2013 San Francisco Peninsula Press Club Award, Photo Series
2008 Greg Robinson Memorial Scholarship Award
ACTIVITIES & EXHIBITIONS:
2025 Art Week Mexico City, Cuerpo Bélico, Collective Exhibition
2024 U.S. Library of Congress, Prints & book acquisition, Permanent Collection
2024 Te Amo, Art Week Mexico City, Solo Installation
2024 The Ford Foundation New York, Cuban Migration Panel, Center for Democracy, U.S.A.
2023 National Geographic Photographers’ Summit, Invited Attendee, Washington D.C.
2023 Centro de la Imagen, Mexico City, Book Presentation FOLIO Festival
2023 Cuban Heritage Collection, Univ. Miami, Prints & book acquisition, Permanent Collection
2023 W.H.O. 75th Anniversary Collective Exhibition, Geneva, Switzerland
2022-present National Geographic Instagram contributor
2022 The Cuban Heritage Collection, at University of Miami, Presenter
2021 ADC 101st Annual Awards, Photography Categories Juror
2020 Photographic Museum of Humanity, “El Otro Lado”, Collective Exhibition
2019 Pop-Up Magazine, The Escape Edition, U.S.A. Tour, Performer
2019 Visa Pour L’Image Festival, Perpignan, France, Book Signing
2019 Women Photograph Workshop, Quito, Ecuador, Instructor
2019 Royal Holloway Picture Gallery, “This is Cuba” Collective Exhibition, London, UK
2018 Internazionale á Ferrara Festival, Ferrara, Italy, Speaker
2018 Annenberg Space for Photography, Los Angeles, U.S.A., Lecturer
2017 Foundry Photojournalism Workshop, Mexico City, Asst. Instructor
2017-present Diversify Photo, Member
2017 Festival GABO, Medellín, Colombia, Speaker
2017 Hostile Environments & First Aid Training (HEFAT), I.W.M.F
2016 New York Times Portfolio Review, NY, NY, Selected Participant
2016 Missouri Photo Workshop, Cuba, MO, U.S.A., Selected Participant
2016-present Women Photograph, Member
2015 VICE H.B.O., “Viva Cuba Libre,” Havana, Cuba, Producer
2014 Foundry Photojournalism Workshop, Antigua, Guatemala, Asst. Instructor
2014 Open Show, New York, U.S.A., Producer
2014 Freedom Tower, CINTAS Foundation, Finalists’ Exhibition, Miami, U.S.A.
2013 Hurricane Sandy Benefit and Solo Show, “Cambio Totál,” Brooklyn, U.S.A.
2012 La Fototeca de Cuba, “Luz de tu Propia Química”, Collective Exhibition
2012 Herold Mahoney Library Gallery, “The Diversity of Cuba”, Collective Exhibition
2012 Cuba Caribe Festival, San Francisco, U.S.A., Collective Exhibition
2012 Harvey Milk Photo Center, San Francisco, U.S.A., Collective Exhibition
2011 Rayko Photo Center, “Plastic Camera Collective Show” San Francisco, U.S.A.
2011 Casa Guayasamín, “Apologies”, Co-Exhibition, Havana, Cuba
2010 Kaleidoscope Gallery, “Black Beans & Rice”, Co-Exhibition, San Francisco, U.S.A.
SELECTED CLIENTS:
National Geographic
Airbnb
The New York Times
Bloomberg Businessweek
Time Magazine
Le Monde
Vogue Italia
The World Health Organisation
VICE
The Atlantic
Smithsonian Magazine
The California Sunday Magazine
The Los Angeles Times
The Washington Post
Americas Quarterly
Newsweek
The Washington Post
ESPN Magazine
WIRED
People Español
Fortune
Saveur
Sotheby’s
The Lift
Sabah Shoes
Blue Water Girls