Overview
Lauren Forster is a portrait and documentary photographer; her work mainly addresses sociological issues with her family playing a central role to her work.
She is a Senior Lecturer and the level leader for the first year of study on the BA (Hons) Photography course.
Her work has been published and exhibited widely in the UK and internationally and she has been the recipient of numerous awards. She was a participating artist published in the book ‘On Death’ in collaboration with Humble Arts Foundation which was voted by the Times as one of the best Photobooks of 2019 and is held in the public book collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Qualifications
Qualifications
- MA Photography (Arts University Bournemouth)
- BA (Hons) Commercial Photography (Arts University Bournemouth)
Teaching Qualification
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education
Teaching
Currently a Senior Lecturer and the current level leader for the first year on the BA (Hons) Photography course at the Arts University Bournemouth
Previous teaching roles include:
- Associate Lecturer on the BA (Hons) Photography course at the Arts University Bournemouth
- Associate Lecturer on the Foundation course (Photography Pathway) at the Arts University Bournemouth
- Course Leader on the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at Brockenhurst College.
- Course Leader on HND Photography course at Brockenhurst College.
Courses
Professional Engagement
Exhibitions:
- Berlin Photo Week, Berlin. 2022
- Royal Photographic Society: International Photography Exhibition 163, Bristol. 2022
- Rotterdam Photo Festival, Holland. 2022
- Pingyao International Photography Festival, China. 2022
- Guizhou Photography Festival, China. 2022
- Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize. Cromwell Place. 2021
- The Luupe, Group exhibition: 100 Visions of Fatherhood. 2021
- Bournemouth Emerging Arts Festival. 2021
- Pen Gallery. 2021
- Photo Oxford. ‘Women and Photography: Ways of Seeing and Being Seen.’ 2020
- Humble Art Foundation. Group show 65 ‘Two Way Lens: Portraits as Empathy.’ 2020
- Helsinki Photo Festival. 2020
- Head On Photo Festival, Australia. 2020
- Yakushima Photography Festival, Japan. 2020
- Auckland Festival of Photography, New Zealand. 2020
- Wellcome Collection, London. 2019
- Lethaby Gallery, London. 2019
- Suwon Photo festival, Korea. 2019
- ILHAM Gallery, Malaysia. 2019
- Mt. Rokko International Photography Festival, Japan. 2019
- PHOTOLUX Festival, Italy. 2019
- Portrait Salon. 2019
- Solo Exhibition, God Has No Favorites, Gallery 101, London. 2019
- Royal Photographic Society International Photography Exhibition 161, Bristol. 2018
- The Royal Photographic Society International Photography Exhibition 161, Municipal Gallery, Dublin. 2018
- The Royal Photographic Society International Photography Exhibition 161, Bristol. 2018
- Portrait of Britain, JCDecaux screens, Nationwide. 2018
- 209 Women, Houses of Parliament, London. 2018
- 209 Women, Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool. 2018
- Photography Now Instagram project led by the Photographers Gallery. 2017
- Beyond the Lens Festival: Photoblock, London. 2017
- The New York Photography Festival, New York. 2010
- AOP Gallery, London. 2009
- The Candit Arts Trust, London. 2008
- The Guardian & Observer Archive and Visitor Centre, London. 2007
Publications:
- Portrait of Britain Vol.3 published by Hoxton Mini Press, Worldwide. 2020
- The British Journal of Photography, the Strength Issue. 2020
- National Geographic. 2020
- Featured in On Death, Kris Graves and Humble Arts Foundation. 2019
- Portrait of Britain Vol.1 published by Hoxton Mini Press, Worldwide. 2018
- Featured in 209 Women. 2018
Awards and Prizes
| Award Name | Date Awarded | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize | 2021 | Finalist |
| LensCulture Portrait Prize | 2021 | Winner |
| The Royal Photographic Society IPE 163 | 2021 | Finalist |
| Head On Portrait Award | 2021 | Finalist |
| BarTur Photo Award | 2021 | Shortlisted |
| Documentary Family Award | 2021 | Finalist |
| Portrait of Britain | 2020 | Shortlisted |
| Head On Portrait Award | 2020 | Finalist |
| Wellcome Photography Prize | 2019 | Finalist |
| Portrait Salon | 2019 | Finalist |
| Kuala Lumpur International Photography Portrait Award | 2019 | Finalist |
| The Royal Photographic Society IPE 161 | 2019 | Finalist |
| Portrait of Britain | 2018 | Winner |
| International Photography Awards: Photo Essay and Feature Story | 2018 | |
| International Photography Awards | 2018 | Honorable Mention |
| Source Magazine Graduate Photography | 2018 | Winner |
| AOP Student Awards | 2017 | Finalist |
| Nikon Discovery Awards | 2007 | Finalist |
| Observer Hodge Photographic Award | 2007 | Finalist |
Memberships
Advance HE Membership
- Associate Fellow (AFHEA)
Professional Memberships
- Association of Photographers
- f22