Rachel Louise Brown is a photographer, photo director and lecturer. She observes the world as a stage, creating photographs whilst exploring and experiencing unfamiliar places alone; often at night. As the explorations evolve, strangers found via casting calls, begin to populate the images. By capturing the psychology involved in these processes, Brown endeavours to question society’s construction of fear, gender and escapism.

Brown graduated from the Royal College of Art, MA Photography (2011), following a year-long artist residency at the School of Visual Arts, NYC (2009) and BA (Hons) Photography at the London College of Communication, UAL (2008).  Brown has exhibited and completed artist residencies internationally, most recently showing her series Simulations (created whilst artist in residence at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre, Florida) as part of the Women in Photography Pavilion Commission at Photo London (2019).

Alongside her photographic practice, Brown is the Photography Director of Harper’s Bazaar + Town & Country (UK), an associate lecturer at Leeds Arts University & Huddersfield University and a mentor at University of the Arts, London.

SIMULATIONS. 2014 – 2018

During an artist-in-residency programme at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre, Brown decided to focus on the oft-advertised image of Florida as the land of escapism, entertainment and thrills, a symbol of the American Dream. Exploring local attractions alone and after hours, including the Palm Beach Zoo, Mar-a-Lago, Fright Nights at the South Florida Fairground and The Breakers, and juxtaposing portraits of young ballerinas, gymnasts and marching bands who are trained to entertain, Brown has produced a personal and intentionally objective view of these familiar landmarks in this highly original and compelling collection of work. Simulations was selected for the ‘Women in Photography’ Photo London Pavilion Commission 2019 alongside Mary McCartney and Susan Meiselas.