Laura Chen (b. 1997) is a Dutch multidisciplinary artist, writer and scholar based in London, UK. Working within the fields of photography, moving image, mixed-media and found or archival material, her practice associates a fine art and documentary approach where research and implementation are closely intertwined. 

Recurring themes and interests include identity, memory, tactility, anthropology, psychoanalysis, 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 employs the lens based medium as a catalyst for her imagination, using 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, 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 EIZO Student Award 2020.

Shortlisted The Nationwide Degree Show 2020 by Fresh Meet.

Exhibitions

2020 - Shutter Hub EVERYDAY DELIGHT (Windows Edition) poster exhibition across the UK | supported by Newspaper Club.

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

GUP New book 2020 | published and distributed by GUP Magazine & Brinkhof.

Canon 'Encourage' book published by Canon and Postcart Edizioni as part of Visa Pour l’Image-Perpignan Festival 2020. 

Photo London Issue 15 | August 2020.

Life Framer Editor's Pick 'Humans of the World' 2020.

Photograd Feature & Interview | November 2020.

The Pupil Sphere - about series 'Killer Queens' | October 2020.

Offspring Photo Meet & Northern Narratives - POSTCARDS FROM COVID | 2020.

Photograd Zine 2020.

Photography of China - about series 'Words From Dad'  | July 2020.

MINA Gallery & Cafe - about series 'Words From Dad'  | June 2020.

GUP New - Interview about series 'Words From Dad'  | April 2020.

in-sight:photography - Interview about my photographic practice | April 2020.

Float Photo Magazine - Portfolio profile about series 'Finders Keepers' | March 2020.

Intern Magazine - Spotlights website feature about series 'Killer Queens' | January 2020.

Aesthetica Magazine - Artist Directory Spotlight - Online & Printed February/March issue #93 |  2020.

Propellor Magazine (Hélice) Issue #3 "Propaganda" 2019.

Midlands Zone #Issue 272, Dec 2019/Jan 2020 | Interview & Monthly Feature about ongoing series 'Killer Queens'.

Midlands Zone #Issue 271, November 2019 | World Aids Day campaign.

Riffs Journal - Volume 3, Issue #1 | April 2019.

Artist Talks

GRAIN Photo Café, Jewellery Quarter | 2020.

Birmingham City University | 2020.

Canon Student Development Programme / Birmingham City University | 2020.

Mentoring 

Redeye Photography Graduate Mentoring Scheme 2020 with Layla Sailor.

Photochat Mentor Session 2020 with Sophie Wright (Magnum Photos | Global Cultural Director, Curator and Writer).

GRAIN - Mentoring from Nicola Shipley (Director) and Stephen Burke (Project Producer) | BCU Graduate Award.

Nationale-Nederlanden Portfolio Day 2020 with Dana Lixenberg | Nederlands Fotomuseum.

Education

MA Photography Arts at University of Westminster London (Part Time Postgraduate Scholarship) | 2020-2022. 

BA Photography (First-Class Honours) at Birmingham City University | 2017-2020.

National Diploma in Creative Media Production (TV & Film) at Walsall Studio School | 2015-2017.

Nominated as UK’s Highly Commended Media Student of the Year 2017 by BTEC Pearson.