Camilla Brown
About
Camilla Brown (https://www.camillaebrown.co.uk/) is a curator, writer and educator on contemporary art, specialising in photography based in Derbyshire. For ten years she was Senior curator at The Photographers’ Gallery, London previously she was Exhibitions Curator at Tate Liverpool. She works at two UK universities teaching on MA courses. Her writing on contemporary photography is regularly published in books and magazines. She was a contributing author to Photography The whole Story (Thames and Hudson 2012) and contributed a chapter to Photographers and research – the role of research in contemporary photographic practice (Focal Press 2017). She has written extensively on artists for books and reviews for magazines. She is Associate Curator at Grain Photography Hub and on the steering group for the Format Photography Festival.
She is currently developing research growing from artists commissions working in rural areas in the West midlands for a forthcoming conference and book with GRAIN scheduled for May 2021.
Camilla Brown Portfolio
All installation shots were taken at The Photographers Gallery.
LACP Interviews Camilla Brown
LACP asks Camilla Brown ten questions about her background, career in and beliefs about photography
LACP: What kind of photographer are you?
Camilla Brown : I am a curator and writer so I facilitate artists to make great work.
LACP: How long have you been shooting?
CB: I have been working in photography for about 25 years
LACP: Where did you get your training?
CB: I studied at The Courtauld Institute of Art in London specialising in Modern art history.
LACP: When did you know you wanted to devote your life to photography?
CB: When I saw Richard Billingham’s work Rays a laugh on a gallery wall – it was the moment I saw the political power that photography could have to use its vernacular connection to speak of poverty and deprivation in a meaningful way.
LACP: Did you ever come close to giving up?
CB: I think if you love photography you will never give up – as it is something you have to do. It is all about bouncing back – I was told too many times to not consider a career as a curator and here I am 30 years on still thriving and loving it.
LACP: Have you sacrificed anything by being a photographer?
CB: As a professional I have not earnt as much as in other sectors but I would swap that any day for the joy of what I do and the passion of the people I work with.
LACP: What have you gained by being a photographer?
CB: I think photographers learn to look and observe the world – they freeze time for us all.
LACP: What classes do you teach at LACP?
CB: I will be running a workshop on writing about your work – finding your artistic voice in words is one step towards defining your vision as an artist and communicating it to others. I help and support with the writing bit as many photographers are more visual people and some can struggle with words.
LACP: What do you love most about teaching?
CB: I love getting the best out of other people and enthusing them. The main way is to give people confidence in themselves – so many of us question ourselves too much.
LACP: What advice would you give someone who is thinking about making a career in photography?
CB: Absolutely do it – but do it with your eyes open. Your career path may take you somewhere you don’t expect but keep checking if you are where you want to be going and use and build your support network. People in photography are great and passionate about what they do – it is tough but you will get there.