Contact
Email: laura@yumi.eu
Instagram: lauramchen
Print sales available.
Please contact me with any enquiries.
Laura Chen (b. 1997) is a Dutch image maker and writer 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.
She is currently editorially contributing to GUP Magazine.
Her work has been featured in and published by Photo London, Lensculture, GUP New, Canon, PHmuseum, Life Framer, Shutterhub, Fresh Eyes, Aesthetica Magazine, Musée Magazine, Float Magazine and Intern Magazine, amongst others. She has exhibited at Westergas Amsterdam (NL), Keilepand Rotterdam (NL), Midlands Art Centre (UK) and Ikon Gallery (UK).
In 2020 she graduated from Birmingham City University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Photography. She is currently undertaking a Masters in Photography Arts at the University of Westminster.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Awards
2021:
- PhMuseum Women Photographers Grant 2021 shortlist.
- British Journal of Photography Edition 365 Award Winner.
- GUP FRESH EYES Talent.
- PhEST Reunion Calling Winner (PhMuseum).
- BCN Bursary Winner by Multistory.
- Shortlisted for Galleries Without Walls (Gallery of Photography Ireland).
- Shortlisted for RPS Postgraduate Bursary 2021/2022.
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:
- British Journal of Photography Edition 365 - Virtual Exhibition on New Art City.
- SHOUT Festival / QUEER PHOTOGRAPHY AT SOUTHSIDE (Killer Queens) - Birmingham, UK.
- FRESH EYES group exhibition and book presentation - Keilepand Rotterdam, NL.
- Shutter Hub YEARBOOK.
- Ikon for Artists - Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, UK.
- Mass Energy Group Photo Exhibition + Zine Project - Bibliotheca, London, UK.
- 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.
- 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.
Online Features
2021:
2020:
- Life Framer Editor's Pick 'Humans of the World'.
- Photograd Feature & Interview.
- The Pupil Sphere.
- Offspring Photo Meet & Northern Narratives - POSTCARDS FROM COVID.
- Photography of China.
- MINA Gallery & Cafe.
- GUP New.
- Float Photo Magazine.
- Intern Magazine.
Printed Publications
2021:
- Homing Zine - No Go Press.
- FRESH EYES book Powered by GUP Magazine.
- Mass Energy Zine.
- Membrana Magazine Vol. 5, no. 1.
- Print Magazine Issue 05.
2020:
- Photo London Issue 15.
- GUP New book - GUP Magazine & Brinkhof.
- Canon 'Encourage' book.
- Photograd Zine.
- Aesthetica Magazine.
- Propellor Magazine (Hélice) Issue #3 "Propaganda".
- Midlands Zone #Issue 272.
2019:
- Midlands Zone #Issue 271.
- Riffs Journal - Volume 3, Issue #1.
WRITING (GUP Magazine)
Articles
Simon Lehner - 'The mind is a voice, the voice is blind'
Juliana Gómez Quijano - 'The Two Strands'
Book Reviews
Jamie Hawkesworth - 'The British Isles'
Portfolios
Kensuke Koike and Thomas Sauvin - 'No More, No Less'
Interviews
EDUCATION
2021: Global Photographies Network - Photobook Production & Publishing programme with Ana Casas Broda from Hydra + Fotografia, Mexico City.
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.
Mentoring
2020/2021:
- 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:
- Nationale-Nederlanden Portfolio Day with Hans van der Meer, Nederlands Fotomuseum.
- The Pupil Sphere Online Crit.
- Exposure Emerging Photographers Showcase + Blast! Creative Network: Online Crit.
- 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.
Artist Talks
2021:
- GRAIN Photo Café / SHOUT Festival.
- BCN Bursary artist event by Multistory.
- Halesowen College Photography Course.
2020:
- GRAIN Photo Café, Jewellery Quarter.
- Birmingham City University (BA Hons Photography).
Press
FRESH EYES 2021 - Powered by GUP Magazine, distributed by Artibooks.
From 'Killer Queens', the Polaroid series.
Ikon for Artists at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham | 17 - 31 May 2021
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