Hi there, I'm Valentina, a trained analog / digital photographer and mixed media practitioner. I achieved a one year Foundation Diploma in Graphic Design at the London College of Communications (University of the Arts London), followed by a BA Honours course in Photographic Arts at the University of Westminster (London) and am currently pursuing my MA in Photography at UWE in Bristol.
I grew up in Virginia in the US, as well as in the scenic Rhine Valley and lived in Berlin for several years, before relocating to Bristol for my degree. Being Irish, German as well as American, I have a mixed heritage background and have equally experienced the abundance and displacement it can bring. If it suits the project, I use photography as a universal language tool to learn and share identity perceptions of others, which has led to many meaningful connections and engaging dialogues in communities over the years.
My MA project uses Goethe's colour theory as a basis for examining the historic textile trade in the community of Frome (in Somerset, England) and the contemporary revival of the use of Woad as a natural blue dye pigment that was traditionally used for weaving with wool to preserve this heritage craft for future generations. I am seeking a British poet to collaborate with for accompanying text. The series titled Blue Gold was shortlisted for the Royal Photographic Society's MA Bursary Prize in 2024. The artist proof digital limestone lithography of both 'Tricolour Woad Dye Transition' & 'Blue Mannequin Fader' images are each for sale as an edition of 10 handmade prints.
My conceptual photographic / mixed media projects explore themes of identity, culture and heritage conservation. So far I have been exhibited in London, Berlin, Belfast, Derry, Boston, Sofia and Bristol.
I accept commissions for editorial, portraiture and urban- / landscape work and have experience shooting behind the scenes on set of short films / music videos and have documented many commercial events in London as well as Berlin.
Thanks for visiting and feel free to get in touch for bookings or collaborations locally or abroad ✨