Photography graduate reaches British Photography Awards final for second year running
17 September 2024
Jacy Wilkes is no stranger to award wins. The Sussex-based Photography MA (Online) graduate has scooped numerous awards for her work over the years, but this latest nomination feels particularly poignant; Walls Defrosting – the image for which Jacy has received a second consecutive British Photography Award nomination – is part of her ongoing research into the visual representation of emotional trauma.
The British Photography Awards celebrate the best in contemporary photography and provide a platform for emerging and established photographers to showcase their work to a wider audience.
Known for her evocative work in family and real estate photography, Jacy began to explore more personal themes as part of her master’s research, focusing on healing and trauma. Walls Defrosting is a self-portrait and has been nominated in the highly competitive ‘Self Portrait’ category of the British Photography Awards.
On the story behind the image, Jacy told us: “For me, this image describes that frozen, helpless feeling which is often accompanied by traumatic situations - that feeling of being so frozen by anxiety or fear, that it's what is keeping you from falling apart.”
On being shortlisted for a British Photography Award for the second year running, Jacy said: “Amongst the extremely high calibre of entries in both years, it is a huge honour which I am so grateful for. The accolade came at a time when I was starting to doubt my work but has just reaffirmed that my research and practice is worthwhile. Emotional trauma, particularly in toxic relationships, is very real and more education and awareness is needed on the subject.”
As a 2024 graduate of Falmouth’s online Photography MA, Jacy joined her fellow graduates on the Penryn campus earlier this year to celebrate their achievements. As she puts it: “I will always be grateful for and remember my studies fondly at Falmouth. The course was life-changing to my artistic practice and is absolutely responsible for helping me find my artist voice to tell my story. The online community was a great source of support, and I have made some virtual friends for life.”
The winners of the British Photography Awards will be announced at The British Photography Gala in London this November. In addition to her shortlist achievement, Jacy is competing for the People’s Choice Award this year. Voting is open to the public and will close on October 9, 2024.
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