Emily June Smith is a neurodivergent visual artist based in Romford, whose work transcends traditional documentary photography to explore deeply personal and social narratives. As an artist with dyslexia, Smith’s practice serves as a powerful vehicle for communicating her distinctive perspective on the world, offering insights shaped by her lived experience with a neurological disability.
Driven by a commitment to amplifying the voices of misunderstood and underrepresented communities, Smith's work sheds light on often overlooked issues, fostering greater understanding and visibility. Her creative journey has been deeply influenced by her own internal struggles with identity, leading her to embrace her differences and cultivate a nuanced, empathetic view of the world.
"Embracing my identity after years of internal conflict has given me both clarity and complexity in how I see life," Smith notes. "Through my work, I aim to empower others to accept their uniqueness without shame."
Smith is a founding member of the Zinnia Collective and is currently participating in an artist development program with Autograph, a gallery in London supporting diverse artists. In addition to her artistic practice, she works as a Learning and Engagement Assistant with Photoworks, where she helps to facilitate educational initiatives and community engagement in contemporary photography.
Smith has previously shown work at a number of exhibitions and publications nationally:
Publications:
Public Offering LTD, A Dissonant Past Unmasked: Growing up with Emily June Smith, 2025
Whisper Magazine, Issue four, 2024
Photoworks, photography+ Graduates issue, August, 2024
Collater.al, July, 2024
Boheme magazine, July, 2024
PhotoVogue, July 8th 2024
British Journal Of Photography, graduate show 2024: An (almost) comprehensive UK list, 2024
Photo vogue, July 1st 2024
Open Doors Gallery,Free Range 2024 top 10 picks
Spectrum Magazine, 2024/ Suboart Magazine, All eyes on Emily June Smith, 2024
Boundless Pictures, winner April, 2024
Femlens, 2024
Folks Magazine,2024
Camera Club, Open call, runner up, 2024
Falmouth university, website, 2024
Photo Vogue, Best of Photo Vogue, April 8th 2024
BBC radio London, 2024
BBC radio Cornwall, 2024
Safelight paper Magazine, 2024
Float Magazine, 2024/ Marino Magazine, 2024
Photo Vogue, April 17th 2023
Whisper Magazine, issue three, 2022.
Programs:
Autograph Gallery, Artist Development Programme 2024-2025
Exhibitions:
Open Doors Gallery, Dandi, Battersea, London, OD Photo Prize, 2024 to 2025
Zinnia Collective, The Bell House, Following on, 2024
Picnic On Sea, Picnic Outings, St Leonard’s on sea, 2024.
Free Range, By All Means, 2024
Falmouth University, Graduate show, 2024
Zinnia Collective, The Bell House, Walking Upright , 2023
The Poly Falmouth, Melange, 2023
The Fish Factory, Disobedient Bodies, 2022
Falmouth University, Restoration 2021
The Barbican Centre Masculinities Liberation Through Photography: creative response from our community partners, 2020
Barking and Dagenham College, 2019
Talks:
Open Doors Gallery, Dandi, Battersea, London, OD Photo Prize, Panel talk, 2024
Barking and Dagenham College, Guest Lecture and artist talk, 2024
Falmouth University, Guest Lecture and artist talk, 2024
Stills Edinburgh, where are the disabled photographers, artist talk, 2024
LND London, world autism day, artist talk, 2024