Speck, 2018

Brooke Shaden   Emerging artists

American artist and photographer Brooke Shaden has spent years exploring the duality of human nature in her work. Born in 1987, Shaden has become one of the most well-known photographers in modern art. She is known for her conceptual images in which she places herself in settings resembling a fantasy world. After graduating from college in 2008, she decided to explore her passion for storytelling and began to delve into the depths of her soul, confronting the fears of her intense childhood imagination.

Brooke primarily shoots self-portraits, but she doesn't shy away from photographing other people. Many of her photographs evoke a sense of epiphany in an unfamiliar place. It's easy to relate to her images, as they embody a personal exploration and encapsulate themes of darkness and light. She seeks to show others an essential part of themselves that may have previously lurked in the shadows. In this way, she sees herself more as a finder than a creator.

Shaden studied film throughout her studies in Pennsylvania, near where she grew up. She was only 25 when she was part of PhotoVogue Italia's group exhibition “101 Best Photos" in 2012. Over the years, she has received 18 conceptual awards for her work and participated in over 80 group and solo exhibitions in America and Europe, with her very first exhibition taking place in 2009.

As previously stated, Brooke's unwavering passion is storytelling, and she continues to take portraits while writing and giving motivational speeches. She also allows us to delve deeper into her mental and physical process in her blog titled “Promoting Passion." She seeks to lead a multitude of lives, her curiosity serving as a perpetual fire of inspiration.