Born in Alicante, Spain, Cristina de Middel studied fine arts and photography before establishing a career as a photojournalist. Her breakthrough came with the self-published project The Afronauts, which utilized staged photography to document the forgotten 1964 Zambian space program, effectively subverting the conventions of documentary practice.

De Middel works primarily with photography, often incorporating archival materials, performance, and bold color palettes to explore themes of migration, identity, and the subjective nature of truth. Her practice frequently interrogates how media representations shape public perception of global events.

Currently a full member of Magnum Photos, her work is held in major institutional collections, including the Tate in London. She continues to exhibit internationally, maintaining a practice that bridges the gap between artistic conceptualism and traditional reportage.