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:
Exhibitions, programs and talks:
Autograph Gallery, Artist Development Programme 2024-2025
Stills Edinburgh, where are the disabled photographers, artist talk, 2024
Free Range, By All Means, 2024
Falmouth University, Graduate show, 2024
LND London, world autism day, artist talk, 2024
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
Publications:
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, 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.