Portraits by 25 students from the BA (Hons) Commercial Photography course at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB), are being exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery as part of a new photography collaboration – Photo Portrait Now – on show now until 8 September 2024.
The display is the culmination of a year-long higher education partnership programme that has brought together gallery curators, leading contemporary photographers and second-year photography students from five universities across England and Wales to foster new creative talent in the field.
In total, it features 92 portraits from 77 photography students; 25 of them currently studying at AUB. Challenging concepts of place, community, relationships and belonging, the exhibited portraits showcase a wealth of new stories that delve into life in Britain today, taking inspiration from portraits exhibited in this year’s Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize, the gallery’s annual photography competition, which showcases the very best of contemporary portrait photography globally.
AUB student Khadijah Roberts-Conteh explains about their work: “The photo was taken on the bus after Easter church service. I was playing with my camera, and I thought 'this could be a good shot', so I just took a few pictures, liked how they looked, and decided to use one of them. The difference in poses between my mum and brother represent the difference between the younger generation and the older generation.
“I was so proud to be included in this incredible exhibition. Having my work in the National Portrait Gallery is definitely a massive highlight of my academic career so far!”
Conrad Tracy, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Commercial Photography, comments, “We’re all delighted for the 25 students who have had their images exhibited as part of the Photo Portrait Now-National Portrait Gallery collaboration, the work made by our students communicates a collective sense of the individual, and the importance of the social connections we make in society.
"The whole exhibition is a testament to the talent coming through from BA (Hons) Commercial Photography students, and also those involved from the other participating courses. It has been an absolute pleasure and a privilege to have been involved with the project, and our students have had the most wonderful experience.”
On Thursday 16 May, all participating students came together at the National Portrait Gallery to celebrate their new work, connect with other students and participate in creative workshops and talks led by professional photographers and industry leaders, including Photo Book Café, Revolv Collective, Kate Peters, Eddie Otchere, Cheryl Newman and Alice Zoo.
“It’s been a pleasure to work so closely with staff and students from AUB as part of Photo Portrait Now, and I’ve been incredibly impressed by the professionalism shown by all of the participating students over the year," says Clare Freestone, Curator of Photography at the National Portrait Gallery.
"Inspiring the next generation of world-class photographers, Photo Portrait Now has provided opportunities for talented groups of young people to exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery, network and connect with industry leaders, supporting their pursuit of creative careers.”
Photo Portrait Now is funded by The National Heritage Lottery Fund and Art Fund. A copy of the National Portrait Gallery publication of Photo Portrait Now, including our students' work, is available in the AUB Library.
