Polly Braden

Scottish photographer

Polly Braden (born 1974)^[1] is a Scottish documentary photographer, living in London.^[2] Her work on learning disabilities and autism has been shown in exhibitions at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford^[3] and at mac, Birmingham.^[4] Her work on single parent families has been shown in exhibitions at the Museum of the Home in London and Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool.^[5] Braden won Photographer of the Year in the Guardian Student Media Award in 2002.^[6]

Life and work

Braden was born in Perthshire, Scotland. She graduated from London College of Printing in 2003.^[1] She lives in London^[2] and is a single parent.^[7]

Her subjects have included China^[8] (where she lived for over 15 years),^[1] the City of London,^[9]^[10] single parent families,^[7]^[5] and learning disabilities and autism.^[11]

Publications

Books of work by Braden

China Between. Stockport: Dewi Lewis, 2010. ISBN 978-1-904587-88-0. With essays by David Campany and Jennifer Higgie.
Great Interactions: Life with Learning Disabilities and Autism. Stockport: Dewi Lewis, 2016. ISBN 978-1-907893-86-5. With an interview by David Campany and an afterword by Sophie Howarth.
London Square Mile: a Secret City. Tales from the City: Book 8. Hoxton Mini, 2019. ISBN 978-1-910566-44-2. With an essay by David Kynaston.^[12]

Books with one other

Adventures in the Lea Valley. East London Photo Stories: Book 12. Hoxton Mini, 2016. With David Campany. ISBN 978-1-910566-12-1.^[13]
Out of the Shadows: the untold story of people with autism or learning disabilities. Stockport: Dewi Lewis; West Bromwich: Multistory, 2018. With seven stories by Sally Williams and three first-hand accounts. ISBN 978-1-911306-36-8.
A Place For Me: 50 Stories of Finding Home. Stockport: Dewi Lewis, 2022. With Sally Williams. ISBN 978-1-911306-83-2.

Books with contributions by Braden

Street Photography Now. London: Thames & Hudson, 2010. ISBN 978-0-500-54393-1 (hardback). London: Thames & Hudson, 2011. ISBN 978-0-500-28907-5 (paperback). Edited by Sophie Howarth and Stephen McLaren. Includes work by Braden made in China.

Exhibitions

Solo exhibitions and similar

Great Interactions: Photographs by Polly Braden, National Science and Media Museum, Bradford, 2016^[3]^[14]
Polly Braden & Sally Williams: Out of the Shadows: the untold story of people with autism or learning disabilities, mac, Birmingham, 2018^[4]
Holding The Baby, Museum of the Home, London, 2021; Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool, 2021. With text by Claire-Louise Bennett and Sally Williams.^[5]^[15]
Holding The Baby, Arnolfini, Bristol, UK (2022)

Group exhibitions

Real Estate: Art in a Changing City, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, 2005 included Adventures in the Valley (Ongoing) with Campany^[16]
Made in China, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, 2006^[17]
London Street Photography: 1860–2010, Museum of London, London, 2011^[18]

Awards

2002: Winner, Photographer of the Year, Guardian Student Media Award^[6]

Collections

Braden's work is held in the following permanent collection:

Guildhall Art Gallery, London^[19]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Photographer Polly Braden's best shot". The Guardian. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Historic England showcases public's photos of lockdown life". The Guardian. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b Ginley, Joanne. "Putting autism or learning disabilities in the frame...". The Yorkshire Post.
^ ^a ^b "Out of the Shadows: the untold story of people…". Midlands Arts Centre. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Holding the Baby: Photographer Polly Braden offers a glimpse into the lives of single-parent families on the poverty line". Creative Boom. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Guardian Student Media Awards: the winners". The Guardian. 7 November 2002. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b "'I'd like to think my daughter is proud': the life of single parents – in pictures". The Guardian. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
^ "Polly Braden's photos of her decade in China". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
^ Harper, Leah (14 March 2014). "Pictures of the week: London's Square Mile, by Polly Braden". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
^ "The Top 40 Photos of London Ever Taken, Ever". Time Out London. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
^ "The great escape: people with learning disabilities on what they love best". The Guardian. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
^ "Street photographs by Polly Braden that shed light on modern life in London's Square Mile". Creative Boom. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
^ "Olympic legacy: photographing the Lea Valley – in pictures". The Guardian. 7 December 2016. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
^ "Photo exhibition capturing lives of people with learning disabilities opens in Bradford". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
^ Robinson, Lucy (7 June 2021). "Holding The Baby: Polly Braden's new photography exhibition". Stylist. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
^ "City limits". The Guardian. 1 September 2005. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
^ "Made in China". Museum of Contemporary Photography. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
^ "Museum of London - London Street Photography". Museum of London.
^ "Guildhall Art Gallery". Twitter. Retrieved 29 November 2021.