"We need to cultivate a bit of anthropomorphism-the idea that human agency has some echoes in nonhuman nature-to counter the narcissism of humans in charge of the world." - VIBRANT MATTER: A POLITICAL ECOLOGY OF THINGS by JANE BENNETT

Emily Coghlan is a UK-based visual artist who often combines analogue photography with archival artefacts and performative interventions in the landscape. Her creative process has been enmeshed with her time growing up in Leeds and being present in urban green spaces and woodlands. Some areas of research include medical and gender histories, as well as ideas surrounding rhizomatic (to the side) growth, restriction and freedom, construction, memory, trauma, reparations, and cyclical patterns. Her lived experience of having spinal fusion and autism spectrum condition have also informed these interests. In recent projects, botanical features and arboreal language have been compared with aspects of societal constriction.

Emily holds a distinction in MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography from London College of Communication (University of the Arts, London). She is currently experimenting with camera-less photography, wood-carving, book-development and moving-image with funding from an Arts Council England 'Develop Your Creative Practice' project grant. Recent work presentations include Flatttpack #1 at Camden Studios, Bow Arts Trust, London (2024), Postcards for Palestine at Berlinskej Model Gallery, Prague & Claire de Rouen Books, London (2023), Members' Show, OUTPOST Gallery, Norwich (2023), The Royal Academy Summer Show, London (2023) and Photo Scratch at Fixation Cameras, London (2023). Selected features in publications include Volume 5: Issue 2 of OUGHT: The Journal of Autistic Culture (2024) and Issue 5 of Porride Magazine (2021). 

She is working as an occasional mentor for an initiative with Impressions Gallery under the Bradford City of Culture 2025 programme. In this capacity, she is involved in the ‘Bradford Young Curators’ project, which aims to help 16-25-year-olds develop skills in the creative industry, ultimately resulting in a photography exhibition that reflects the city’s heritage. She was initially a volunteer with the gallery in 2017.

Emily holds a studio with Bow Arts Trust in London. 


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