Through portrait photography we humanize statistics, promoting compassion and advocating responsible citizenship among members of the global community. 

Our Mission

The People’s Portfolio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that uses portrait photography, by artist Platon, to document efforts around the globe dedicated to respecting and upholding human rights and human dignity. 

We share our portfolios - backed by filmed interviews and in-depth research - with a global audience to provide viewers with a powerful personal connection to matters of pressing concern. They highlight both individuals and the larger causes they represent, and are designed as tools to encourage the general public, and those who hold power, to take action.

Our Strategy

Collaborating with NGO partners and expert advocacy organizations, we select important social issues around which we believe awareness is urgently needed. Our partner organizations provide The People’s Portfolio with extensive background research and relationships of trust with individuals in the field. 

The People’s Portfolio connects Platon with these partnering groups, facilitating their relationship and overseeing production of each portfolio. Together, we disseminate this work through media coverage, exhibitions, social media, and public events.

Partnership

Partnership is an essential component of our strategy. To date, we've produced portfolios in collaboration with Human Rights Watch, The New Yorker, The National Center for Civil and Human Rights, ExxonMobil and The UN Foundation.

Board of Directors

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PLATON, Founder

After working for British Vogue for several years, Platon was invited to NYC to work for the late John Kennedy Jr. and his political magazine, 'George'. 

 Shooting portraits for a range of international publications including Rolling Stone, the New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Esquire, GQ, WIRED and the Sunday Times Magazine, Platon developed a special relationship with Time magazine, producing over 20 covers. In 2007, he photographed Russian Premier Vladimir Putin for Time magazine's Person of the Year cover. This image was awarded 1st prize at the World Press Photo Contest.



In 2008 he signed a multi-year contract with The New Yorker. As the staff photographer, he has produced a series of large-scale photo essays, two of which won ASME Awards in 2009 and 2010. Platon's New Yorker portfolios have focused on many themes the U.S Military, portraits of world leaders and the Civil Rights Movement. 

The following year, Platon teamed up with the Human Rights Watch to help them celebrate those who fight for equality and justice in countries suppressed by political forces. These projects have highlighted human rights defenders from Burma as well as the leaders of the Egyptian revolution. Following his coverage of Burma, Platon photographed Aung San Suu Kyi for the cover of Time - days after her release from house arrest.In 2011, Platon was honored with a Peabody Award for collaboration on the topic of Russia's Civil Society with The New Yorker and Human Rights Watch.        

The publication of Platon's first monograph Platon's Republic [Phaidon Press, 2004] coincided with international exhibitions in London at the ex-Saatchi Gallery as well as the Milk Gallery in New York. 

His second book, Power - a collection of portraits of over 100 world leaders - was published in 2011 by Chronicle and includes portraits of Barack Obama, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, Hugo Chavez, Tony Blair, Robert Mugabe and Muammar Qaddafi.

Public speaking now plays a major role in Platon's career as communicator and storyteller. He is represented by the Washington Speakers Bureau and has been invited to be a keynote speaker on leadership at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Chanel, Nike, Yale University, Oxford University, Wharton University, the National Portrait Gallery in London and International Center of Photography in NY. Additionally, he's made a number of television appearances including Charlie Rose (PBS), Morning Joe (MSNBC), Fareed Zakaria's GPS (CNN) and the BBC World News.

Platon's work has been exhibited in galleries and museums both domestically and abroad. He has exhibited in New York at the Matthew Marks Gallery and the Howard Greenberg Gallery, as well as internationally at the Colette Gallery in Paris, France. The New York Historical Society held a solo show of Platon's Civil Rights photographs, which remain as part of the museum's permanent collection. Other permanent collections holding Platon's photography include The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts in Tampa, Florida and The Westlicht Museum for Photography in Vienna, Austria and the Scotland National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh.

Platon is a member of the Global Leadership Council for the World Economic Forum.

MINKY WORDEN, Board Chair
Director of Global Initiatives, Human Rights Watch

SCOTT DADICH
Editor-in-Chief, WIRED

MICHAEL GRANOFF
Founder & CEO, Pomona Capital

JIM JONES
Manager of Community Investment Programs, Exxon Mobil Corporation

DAVID MALONEY
Managing Partner, CLM

DAVID NEU
President, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation

BRUCE RABB
General Counsel, PILnet

LAURA ROBERSON FISCH
Philanthropist

JILL SAVITT, Secretary
Human Rights Advocate

MARSHALL SOLLENDER, Treasurer
Business Manager, Clique Strategic Management 

The People’s Portfolio developed directly out of Platon’s humanitarian work and formally attained its 501(c)(3) status in 2013.