Zara Pears is a New Zealand born photographer based in London. She creates black and white photographs inspired by performance, the poetic and surreal. Her practice explores connections between the physical body, the psychological and photography's relationship to time, memory and fiction. She works intuitively and collaboratively, through a process of research, intuition and chance she hopes to create narratives which are open to interpretation.. She was awarded a Masters in Photography (Distinction) from the University of Brighton, England in 2019.
CV
b. 1982 Christchurch, New Zealand
education
MA Photography (Distinction), University of Brighton, 2017 - 2019.
Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning, University of Canterbury NZ, 2007-2009.
BA Mass Communications, University of Canterbury NZ, 2003-2006.
exhibitions
2024: Shared Grounds, Collective 22 , London Gallery West, The Forum, University of Westminster, Watford Road, Middlesex, UK
2022: Rivers, Signals, Miracles, Brighton Photo Fringe, Collective 22, Photo Fringe Collectives Hub, Phoenix Art Space, Brighton, UK
2022: Looking for Spiders, Brighton Photo Fringe, Re.Casting Collective, The Regency Townhouse, Brunswick Square, Brighton, UK
2022: East Meets West Masterclass Participants group show- Format Festival, 18th-20th March 2022, Derby, England, UK
2021: Salon/21 30th Anniversary, Group Show, Photofusion Photography Centre, London, UK
2020: Nothing and Everything Happened, Brighton Photo Fringe, Pryzma Collective Group Show, The Regency Townhouse, Brunswick Square, Brighton, UK
2020: Expanding Perspectives; A Creative Response to Mental Health, Group Show, City University London, London, UK
2020: The Hair-Dresser, Group Show, New England House, Brighton, UK
2019: Unfixed, MA Photography Final Show, University of Brighton, 154-155 Edward Street, Brighton, UK
2018: Salon/18, Group Show, Photofusion Photography Centre, London, UK
2018: First Thursday Late, Nunnery Gallery, ‘Shoot the Moon’ Workshop Participants Installation, London, UK
2018: Casting Off, Brighton Photo Fringe, Group Show, Lock In Gallery, Brighton, UK
2017: Salon/17, Group Show, Photofusion Photography Centre, London, UK
2015: 4 Photographers, Group Show, Photospace Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand
2015: Moments, Places, Times, Spaces, Group Show, Matchbox Studios, Wellington, New Zealand
2014: Respite, Dual Show, Matchbox Studios, Wellington, New Zealand
awards
2022: BFP Danny Wilson Awards, Professionals Choice, ‘Group or Collective Exhibition’: Rivers, Signals, Miracles (Collective 22)
2020: BFP Danny Wilson Memorial Awards, Peoples Choice Award ‘Best Physical Exhibition’: Nothing and Everything Happened (Pryzma Collective).
2018: BPF Danny Wilson Memorial Awards, Emerging Curators Choice, Special Mention: Casting Off.
talks
2021: Work Show Grow Artist Talk Salon, Wed 26th May, Online Event
2020: Arts and Health Hub guest speaker, Kentish Town Health Centre, 2 Bartholomew Rd, Kentish Town, London, United Kingdom
2019: ‘Miniclick Talks’ speaker, University of Brighton, 154-155 Edward Street, Brighton, United Kingdom
2018: Viewpoints-University of Brighton tour and individual presentations (Alex Prager), The Photographers Gallery, London
2018: Peer Mentoring Talk as part of Brighton Photo Fringe Event, Lock In Gallery, United Kingdom
press
Interview with Pryzma Collective https://2020.photofringe.org/latest/interview-with-pryzma-collective-nothing-and-everything-happened
