Biography
Contact
laura@yumi.eu
@lauramchen
Print sales available, please contact me directly with any enquiries.
Laura Chen (b. 1997) is a Dutch image maker, writer and scholar based in London, UK. Working within the fields of photography, video, mixed-media and found or archival material, her multidisciplinary practice associates a fine art and documentary approach where research and implementation are closely intertwined.
Recurring themes and interests include identity, memory, tactility, the marginalised, disregarded and overlooked - whether in everyday objects or groups of people who live and work on the fringes of society. Fascinated by observing and recording her daily encounters and whereabouts, she uses photography as a catalyst for her imagination, her camera as a tool and device to make sense of the world and the obscurities of the mundane.
Her work has been exhibited at Westergas Amsterdam (NL) and Midlands Art Centre (UK), and has been featured in and published by Photo London, Lensculture, GUP New, Canon, Life Framer, Aesthetica Magazine, Intern Magazine and Shutterhub.
Recent awards and shortlists include GUP New Talent 2020, EIZO Student Award 2020 and the Canon Student Development Programme organised by Visa Pour l’Image-Perpignan Festival 2020. In 2020 she graduated from Birmingham City University with a Bachelor of Arts degree (First-class Honours) in Photography. She is currently undertaking a Masters in Photography Arts at the University of Westminster London.
Awards
GUP New Talent 2020.
Life Framer Editor's Pick Humans of the World 2020.
GRAIN BCU Graduate Award 2020.
Canon Student Development Programme 2020 organised by Visa Pour l’Image-Perpignan Festival.
Shortlisted for the EIZO Student Award 2020.
Exhibitions
2020 - Shutter Hub EVERYDAY DELIGHT (Windows Edition) poster exhibition across the UK | supported by Newspaper Club.
2020 - The Nationwide Degree Show 2020 by Fresh Meet.
2020 - Birmingham City University Online Graduate Show.
2019 - GUP New Dutch Photography Talent 2020 group exhibition and book launch | Westergas, Amsterdam, NL.
2019 - Sky High Skies | Transpace Gallery at Illinois State University, USA.
2019 - Sandwell Pride of Place Project as part of Blast! Photo Festival | Multistory, UK.
2019 - 'Words From Dad' and commissioned work for Chinese New Year Festival | Birmingham Hippodrome, UK.
2019 - The Green Lens group exhibition - EcoBirmingham & Ampersand Projects | Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), UK.
2018 - Project Birmingham group exhibition | Medicine Bakery, Birmingham, UK.
Recent Publications
2020 - Photo London Issue 15
2020 - GUP New book | published and distributed by GUP Magazine & Brinkhof.
2020 - Canon 'Encourage' book published by Canon as part of Visa Pour l’Image-Perpignan Festival.
2020 - Life Framer Editor's Pick 'Humans of the World'.
2020 - Photograd Feature & Interview
2020 - The Pupil Sphere
2020 - Offspring Photo Meet & Northern Narratives - POSTCARDS FROM COVID.
2020 - Photography of China
2020 - MINA Gallery & Cafe
2020 - GUP New
2020 - in-sight:photography
2020 - Float Photo Magazine
2020 - Intern Magazine
2020 - Aesthetica Magazine - Artist Directory Spotlight - February/March issue #93.
2019 - Propellor Magazine (Hélice) Issue #3 "Propaganda".
2020 - Midlands Zone #Issue 272
2019 - Midlands Zone #Issue 271
2019 - Riffs Journal - Volume 3, Issue #1.
Artist Talks
2021 - Halesowen College Photography Course.
2020 - GRAIN Photo Café, Jewellery Quarter.
2020 - Birmingham City University.
2020 - Canon Student Development Programme at Birmingham City University.
Mentoring
2020 - Redeye Photography Graduate Mentoring Scheme with Layla Sailor.
2020 - Photochat Mentor Session with Sophie Wright (Magnum Photos | Global Cultural Director, Curator and Writer).
2020 - GRAIN mentoring from Nicola Shipley (Director) and Stephen Burke (Project Producer) | BCU Graduate Award.
2020 - Nationale-Nederlanden Portfolio Day with Dana Lixenberg | Nederlands Fotomuseum.
Portfolio Reviews & Crits
2020 - Exposure Emerging Photographers Showcase + Blast! Creative Network: Online Crit.
2019 - The Ian Parry Scholarship at Frontline Club, London.
2019 - GRAIN / Multistory Portfolio Development Day as part of Blast! Photo Festival.
2019 - Iron House Portfolio Reviews, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham.
Education
2020-2022: MA Photography Arts at University of Westminster London - Part Time Postgraduate Scholarship.
2017-2020: BA Photography (First-Class Honours) at Birmingham City University.
Press
GUP New Dutch Photography Talent 2020 at Machinegebouw Westergas, Amsterdam | 6 - 8 December 2019
Encourage book published by Canon and Postcart Edizioni as part of Visa Pour l'Image-Perpignan Festival 2020.
The Green Lens exhibition at the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) Birmingham, UK | 1 Sep - 28 Oct 2018