About

Emma Martin (b. 2000) is a social documentary and fine art photographer whose work examines the interconnectedness between people and their environments. Her work uses a blend of spontaneous documentary realism and stylized constructions, fusing elements of portraiture and still life. She takes a playful approach to her practice, often blurring the lines between representation and abstraction.

Having graduated with a First Class Honours from the BA Photography programme at UAL LCC in 2022, her work often captures the practices, cultural heritage and landscapes that bind individuals together, inviting viewers to contemplate the nature of community and our shared humanity. Her research revolves around subculture, folklore, and the inherent bond between individuals and their surroundings, and her practice often contemplates ideas of cultural memory and the collective unconscious.

Emma collaborates with her subjects prioritising trust and respect in her process, allowing for the creation of emotionally resonant and authentic portraits that honour the subject’s identity and how they wish to be represented.

Her work blends traditional analogue and darkroom practices with experimental techniques. She enjoys playing with the photograph as a physical object, often incorporating unconventional materials and natural elements into the image-making process.

She also has been working with found photography and curation since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, when she began her eBay Archives work.

hello@emmamartin.uk

@emmaa.m

@ebayarchives

Exhibited

Group Shows:

Those Who Came Before Us, Photobook Cafe, London, 2024.

Make Space, Norman Rea Gallery, York, 2023.

INhibition, Norman Rea Gallery, York, 2022.

Emergence, London College of Communication, University of the Arts London, London, 2022.

Coping Through, The Copeland Gallery, London, 2022.

Publications

Featured in:

Portrait of Britain (Vol. 6). Published by the British Journal of Photography and BLUECOAT PRESS (click to view).

The Big Rot. Published by Zone Paper, Zone Magazine (click to view).

Portrait of Britain (Vol. 2). Published by the British Journal of Photography and Hoxton Mini Press (click to view).

Portrait of Britain (Vol. 1). Published by the British Journal of Photography and Hoxton Mini Press (click to view).

British Journal of Photography’s ‘The Portrait Issue’ of September 2018 (click to view).

Awards

Shortlisted for Portrait of Britain, Vol. 6 (2024)
Shortlisted for Portrait of Britain, Vol. 2 (2019)
Shortlisted for Portrait of Britain, Vol. 1 (2018)

Interviews

University of the Arts London  - Pride Month: Photographer Emma Martin on queer joy, radical self-acceptance and unity.
University of the Arts London - Behind the Lens, 2023 LGBTQ+ History Month Campaign.