Laura Chen

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.

Featured in and published by Photo London, Lensculture, GUP, Canon, PHmuseum, Life Framer, Aesthetica Magazine, Float Magazine, Intern Magazine and Shutterhub. Her work has been exhibited at Westergas Amsterdam (NL), Haute Photographie Amsterdam (NL), Midlands Art Centre (UK) and Ikon Gallery (UK). 

Recent awards and shortlists include FRESH EYES Talent 2021, 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

2021 |

GUP FRESH EYES Talent.

PhEST Reunion Calling Winner PHmuseum. 

2020 |

GUP New Talent.

Life Framer Editor's Pick Humans of the World.

GRAIN BCU Graduate Award.

Canon Student Development Programme organised by Visa Pour l’Image-Perpignan Festival.

Shortlisted for the EIZO Student Award.

Exhibitions

2021 |

FRESH EYES group exhibition and book presentation - Haute Photographie Amsterdam, NL.

Ikon for Artists - Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, UK.

Mass Energy Group Photo Exhibition + Zine Project - Bibliotheca, London, UK.

2020 | 

Shutter Hub EVERYDAY DELIGHT (Windows Edition) poster exhibition across the UK.

The Nationwide Degree Show by Fresh Meet.

Birmingham City University Online Graduate Show.

2019 | 

GUP New Dutch Photography Talent 2020 group exhibition and book launch - Westergas, Amsterdam, NL.

Sky High Skies - Transpace Gallery at Illinois State University, USA.

Sandwell Pride of Place Project as part of Blast! Photo Festival - Multistory, UK.

Words From Dad  and commissioned work for Chinese New Year Festival  - Birmingham Hippodrome, UK.

The Green Lens group exhibition, EcoBirmingham & Ampersand Projects - Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), UK.

2018 | 

Project Birmingham group exhibition - Medicine Bakery, Birmingham, UK.

Publications

2021 |

FRESH EYES book Powered by GUP Magazine.

Mass Energy Zine. 

Membrana Magazine Vol. 5, no. 1.

Print Magazine Issue 05.

The Pupil Sphere.

2020 | 

Photo London Issue 15.

GUP New book - published and distributed by GUP Magazine & Brinkhof.

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

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

Photograd Feature & Interview.

The Pupil Sphere.

Offspring Photo Meet & Northern Narratives - POSTCARDS FROM COVID.

Photograd Zine 2020.

Photography of China.

MINA Gallery & Cafe.

GUP New.

in-sight:photography.

Float Photo Magazine.

Intern Magazine.

Aesthetica Magazine - Artist Directory Spotlight - February/March issue #93.

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

Midlands Zone #Issue 272.

2019 | 

Midlands Zone #Issue 271.

Riffs Journal - Volume 3, Issue #1.

Artist Talks

2021 |

Halesowen College Photography Course.

2020 |

GRAIN Photo Café, Jewellery Quarter.

Birmingham City University.

Mentoring 

2020 | 

Redeye Photography Graduate Mentoring Scheme.

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

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

Portfolio Reviews & Crits

2021 | 

The Pupil Sphere Online Crit.

Exposure Emerging Photographers Showcase + Blast! Creative Network: Online Crit.

2020 | 

Nationale-Nederlanden Portfolio Day with Dana Lixenberg, Nederlands Fotomuseum.

2019 | 

The Ian Parry Scholarship at Frontline Club, London.

GRAIN / Multistory Portfolio Development Day as part of Blast! Photo Festival.

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.