Favourite local writer 

1. Callie Lugosi
2. Bartley Kives
3. Cierra Bettens / Riva Billows / Ryan Thorpe (tie)

Favourite local photographer

1. Callie Lugosi
2. Ally Gonzalo
3. Jen Doerksen

This is Callie Lugosi’s second year in a row winning both the favourite local writer and favourite local photographer categories. 

“I’m deeply flattered that I have been voted winner for both these categories two years in a row. It’s very special,” Lugosi says. “Something I’ve done has resonated with people, and that’s all I can really ask for.”

Like most people during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lugosi’s life has been turned upside-down. When asked about the struggles they have faced trying to keep their creativity going, Lugosi was honest.

“I’ve spent most of the pandemic surviving like everybody else,” they say. “I’ve worked on a couple of things, but I really want to stress that I’m not concerned with my creative output, either.”

Lugosi is known for wearing multiple hats throughout their career. They’re most well known for their roles as photographer and writer, but Lugosi has also worked as an online creator and chronicler of local queer history. 

In the summer of 2019, Lugosi held a solo exhibition, Majesties, which was a photo documentation of Winnipeg’s drag scene through a series of portraits in the style of Renaissance paintings.

“Majesties was my first solo exhibition, and it was a huge success because of how many people were involved in creating it,” they say. 

A majority of Lugosi’s work has focused on Winnipeg queer history and people as their subjects. However, they’re beginning to branch off into different directions.

“Those portraits mean the world to me, but I’m really happy to be moving on and working on things that are about myself – which is something I’ve never done before.” 

Although they’re not ready to specify details, Lugosi says the upcoming project involves them using different mediums and leaving their camera aside.

“The work I’ve been developing over the last six months has been deeply personal.”

Editorial note: Callie Lugosi is a staff photographer at The Uniter. While we don't count votes cast for The Uniter in the Uniter 30, readers are free to cast votes for Uniter staff and their work.

Published in Volume 75, Number 12 of The Uniter (December 3, 2020)