Emma Sywyj
Lives and works in London, UK
b.1986, Nottingham, UK
emmasywyj@hotmail.com
Mobile
07809590712
Website
Artist Statement
I am a photographer and moving‑image artist whose work explores cultural identity, everyday environments, and the visual rhythms of global travel. My practice focuses on capturing the vibrancy, intricacy, and emotional resonance of lived experience, encouraging viewers to see beyond the everyday and recognise the beauty embedded in ordinary spaces. Drawing from time spent across Europe and Asia, my work reflects a personal and evolving relationship with place and belonging.
Education
Camberwell College of Arts, UAL, London, 2005 - 2009
BA Honours Photography, 2:2, 2006-2009
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, Merit, 2005-2006
WellesleyX, USA (online edX), 2019 - 2020
Italian Language and Culture: Beginner, Pass
MOOC, OOAC, New York (online), 2013 - 2013
Contemporary Architecture, 20 CPD Credits
RCAT, Dinnington, 2010 - 2011
French Reading, Level 2 (Intermediate), Grade 9
Solo Exhibitions
2004 Colour Travel Photography Collection, BRB, Sheffield
Group Exhibitions
2025 Shadow and Shade, BobCat Gallery, London (online)
2025 There’s No Place Like Home, 13b, Kamnik, Slovenia
2025 Entangled Geographies: Displacement, Belonging, and the Spaces In Between, Cista Arts, London (online)
2025 Landscape, Collect Art, Tbilisi, Georgia (online)
2025 Nocturnal Hours, N.Y Photo Curator, New York, USA (online)
2025 Cinematic Pictures, Millepiani, Rome, Italy
2024 Contrast, Meta Space Gallery (online)
2024 Upside Down, PH21 Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
2023 Light and Shadow, PH21 & Valid World Hall Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
2023 Migrations and The Shifting Borders, Millepiani, Rome, Italy
2020 Tempus Film Festival, Belarus
2020 Little Rock Italian Film Festival, Arkansas, USA, (online)
2020 The Global Gallery, Ars Electronica .ART Gallery, (online)
2020 Planet Earth, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography, (online)
2020 Ambitus Film Festival, St. Petersburg, Russia
2020 The New Dreams International Film Festival, Los Angeles, USA
2020 Onirica Film Festival, Liguria, Italy
2020 FESTPRO Film Festival, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Penza & Vladimir, Russia
2019 Night, (The Glasgow Gallery of Photography), COLAB, Glasgow, Scotland
2019 Monochrome II, (The Glasgow Gallery of Photography), COLAB, Glasgow, Scotland
2019 The Game, Millepiani, Rome, Italy
2019 Landscape, (The Glasgow Gallery of Photography), COLAB, Glasgow, Scotland
2019 Glitch, PH21 Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
2019 What Makes You Feel Proud?, Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool
2019 International Photography Exhibition (The Glasgow Gallery of Photography pop up shop), COLAB, Glasgow, Scotland
2019 Cooltzine Vol.2 Launch, Stour Space, London
2019 Cooltzine Vol.2 Launch, Papergirl Galerija Hub, Belgrade, Serbia
2019 Cooltzine Vol.2 Launch, MOVE.BG, Sofia, Bulgaria
2019 Wish You Were Here 19 Postcard Show, A.I.R Gallery, New York City, USA
2019 International Photography Exhibition (The Glasgow Gallery of Photography pop up shop), COLAB, Glasgow, Scotland
2019 Her Story Afterparty (SeeMe), Jane Hotel, New York City, USA
2018 So Limitless and Free Film Festival, Quebec, Canada
2018 Art Takes Miami (SeeMe), SCOPE, Art Basel Miami, Miami, USA
2018 Magna Mater, Lys d'Or (online exhibition), Italy
2018 Plastic, Millepiani, Rome, Italy
2018 Tucasa, Art Muzeo, Sabor y Cultura, Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, USA
2018 The Capsule Vending (V/.) Machine, Vandal/., UK
2018 Cooltzine #1 Launch, Leyden Gallery, London
2018 Cooltzine #1 Launch, Kvaka 22, Belgrade, Serbia
2018 Cooltzine #1 Launch, be'kech, Berlin, Germany
2018 Cooltzine #1 Launch, Cush.Bar, Sofia, Bulgaria
2018 Get it Arts - Group Exhibition, 5th Base Gallery, London
2017 GOLDTAPPED, The Newbridge Project, Newcastle upon Tyne
2017 Los Angeles Photography Awards, French Alliance of Pasadena, Pasadena, USA
2017 The (Accidental) Marks Made While Making Art, Cultivate (online exhibition), London
2017 Blowing a Gail, Old Town House, Warrington
2017 Art Auction, Holy Biscuit Gallery, Newcastle
2017 Surprise 8, Organization Earth K44, Athens, Greece
2017 Street Photography, PH21 Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
2017 Visualising The Home, The Vallum Gallery, Carlisle
2017 Colour Assembly, Pop-up shop, London
2016 The China Connection, The Centre For Chinese Contemporary Art (CFCCA), Manchester
2013 Gallery Town, Rotherham
2012 Art Takes Times Square, New York, USA
2012 Welcome Show, A.Gallery, Glasgow, Scotland
2012 Souvenir, Pump House Gallery, London
2012 MOPLA + Smashbox Studios Group Show, Los Angeles, USA
2012 Untitled, Enjoy Gallery, Leeds
2011 Midlands Open 2011, Tarpey Gallery, Castle Donnington
2011 Vibe Nation, Vibe Gallery, London
2011 Artificial Light, Cupola Gallery, Sheffield
2011 Open Salon, Surface Gallery, Not Lost Festival, Nottingham
2011 Oxfordshire Artweeks, Artspool, Oxford
2011 Art Soul Kollective, Warehouse, Sheffield
2011 Social Cinema, The Residence Gallery, London
2011 Holy Ghost:The Collection, New Gallery, London
2011 Fragile City, The Stable, London
2010 Postcard Show 14, The LAB, San Francisco, USA
2010 Brixton Salon, Viewfinder Gallery, London
2010 The Parallax Error, Enjoy Gallery, Leeds
2009 Degree Show, Camberwell College of Arts, London
2008 End of year show (Camberwell College of Arts), Area 10, London
2008 Imperial Works, Imperial Works, London
2007 Two.Things.That.There.Are.Never.Enough.Of, The Sassoon Gallery, London
2006 TIT FOR TAT Collective Show, Auto Italia Gallery, London
2006 Abstract Light Work, Bessemer Gallery, Sheffield
Filmography
2024 Screen Test: Part One, UN/FAMILIAR, Art Magnitude, Stowmarket, UK
2024 Breakdowns, UN/FAMILIAR, Art Magnitude, Stowmarket, UK
2021 Screen Test: Part One, Super Short Film Festival, Online
2019 Breakdowns, "F is For" Feminism and the Female Form, Hyperflexion Contemporary Art, Eastern Cape, South Africa
2019 Screen Test: Part One, Festival Internacional de Cine de Yécora, Yécora, Mexico
2019 Breakdowns, Festival Internacional de Cine de Yécora, Yécora, Mexico
2018 Screen Test: Part One, Inshort Film Festival, Lagos, Nigeria
2018 Screen Test: Part One, Soundstripes 2, Huddersfield
2018 Screen Test: Part One, Europa Film Festival, Barcelona, Spain
2018 Screen Test: Part One, Wiz- Art Festival, Lviv, Ukraine
2018 Breakdowns, OKTO.TV, online
2018 Breakdowns, Oslo University, Oslo, Norway
2017 Screen Test: Part One, 13 Festival Transterritorial de Cine Underground, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2017 Breakdowns, Open Film Night, Hyde Park Picture Club, Leeds
2017 Screen Test: Part One, Artistank Launch Party, Crypt Gallery, London
2016 Breakdowns, Streaming Festival (online)
2012 The Glass Ceiling, Culture Unplugged, Humanity Explored Festival (online), India
2012 The Glass Ceiling, Festival of Nations, Lenzing, Austria
2011 The Glass Ceiling, Rome Independent Film Festival, Rome, Italy
2011 The Glass Ceiling, Un Film Per La Pace, Udine, Italy
2011 The Glass Ceiling, Mediawave Independent Film and Music Gathering, Hungary
2011 The Glass Ceiling, Video Festival Imperia, Imperia, Italy
2011 The Glass Ceiling, Heart of England Festival, Tenbury Wells, UK
2011 The Glass Ceiling, The Residence Gallery, London
2009 The Glass Ceiling, The Camberwell College of Arts Degree Show, UAL, London
Competitions and Awards
Winner
2026 Beyond Border International Film Festival, Kolkata, India
2026 Asian Independent Film Festival, Kolkata, India
2026 CenCal Fin Lit Film Festival, Fresno, California, USA
2025 Theta Short Film Festival, Naples, Italy
2025 Silver Wings International Film Festival, West Bengal, India
2025 Caravan International Film Festival, Kolkata, India
2018 Erie International Film Festival, Best Experimental, USA
2018 Silver Needle Press, Visual Art Contest, USA
2018 Avalonia Festival, Avalonia Photography Traveler Award, Rhode Island, USA
2018 Annual Copenhagen Film Festival, Best Photograph, Copenhagen, Denmark
Official Selection
2026 Niagara Canada International Film Festival, Niagra Falls, USA
2026 Lebanese Independent Film Festival, Beirut, Lebanon
2025 Chameleon Film Festival, Naples, Italy
2025 Hak İş 6th International Labor Photographs Competition, Ankara, Turkey
2025 TUSCANY WEB FEST - Yes. It's your moment, Tuscany, Italy
2025 WOLF Media Festival, Florida, USA
Finalist
2026 Luminous Frames Festival, Yerevan, Armenia
2025 Indigenous Culture Short Film Festival (InCuFF), Denizli, Turkey
2020 FESTPRO Film Festival, Moscow, Russia
2020 Paris Play Film Festival, Paris, France
2020 Ambitus Film Festival, St. Petersburg, Russia
2019 Take it East Film Festival, New York City, USA
2019 Aphrodite Film Awards, New York City, USA
2018 LifeArt Festival, Los Angeles, USA
2018 Near Nazareth Festival, Photography Contest, Nazareth, Israel
2018 The Mediterranean Film Festival (MedFF), PhotoArt Challenge, Sicily, Italy
2018 Calcutta International Cult Film Festival, Best Photography, Calcutta, India
2018 Hollywood Art & Movie Awards, Best Art Photography, Los Angeles, USA
Semi-Finalist
2019 I Filmmaker International Film Festival, Barcelona, Spain
2019 VISUALIS Film Festival, St.Petersburg, Russia
2019 The International Film Festival "Catharsis", Moscow, Russia
2018 The Alternative Film Festival, Ontario, Canada
2018 Los Angeles CineFest, Los Angeles, USA
Nominee
2026 18th Jaipur International Film Festival (JIFF), New Delhi, India
Gold Award
2025 Wallachia International Film Festival, Budapest, Hungary
Silver Award
2018 Angeles Documentaries, Best Documentary Photographer, Los Angeles, USA
2017 Los Angeles Photography Awards, Los Angeles, USA
Honorable Mention
2025 Wallachia International Film Festival, Budapest, Hungary
2025 India Chicago International Film Festival, India
2025 L.A Photo Curator, The Great Escape, Los Angeles, USA
2025 Caravan International Film Festival, Kolkata, India
2021 International Panoramic Film Festival of India, Kerala, India
2018 20th Hal Poetry, Prose and Photography Prize, USA
2018 Virgin Spring Cinefest, Kolkata, India
2016 International Photography Awards (IPA), Family of Man : Old Age, Los Angeles, USA
Regional Finalist
Channel 5 Big Art Challenge, Manchester, (2004)
Publications
2026 Burningword Literary Journal
2025 Pancho Zine
2025 Pancho Zine
2025 The Flux Review
2025 The Penn Review
2025 The Novus Literary Arts Journal
2025 JustArt Newspaper Club
2025 Collect Art
2025 Cista Arts
2025 Collect Art
2024 Meta Space Gallery
2020 Fearsome Critters
2020 Sand HIlls
2019 Catamaran
2019 2 Bridges Review Volume 8
2019 Indestructible Energy
2019 Meat for Tea: The Valley Review
2019 Fourteen Hills
2019 Cooltzine Vol.2
2019 Foxhole Magazine
2018 Penny Thoughts
2018 The Finger Magazine
2018 Artist Talk Magazine
2018 Peninsula Pulse
2018 Ponder Review, USA
2018 Music and Misery, Lonely Boy Zine, UK
2018 Consumnes River Journal, USA
2018 The Las Positas Anthology 2018: Rise, USA
2018 LEVITATE Literary Magazine, USA
2018 Cooltzine, UK
2017 Magazine 43, Taiwan
2017 A5 Magazine, UK
2017 Average Art Magazine, UK
2017 Wotisart Magazine, UK
2017 Visualising The Home catalogue, The Vallum Gallery, Carlisle
2013 Agora Publication, London
2010 Brixton Salon catalogue, Viewfinder Gallery, London
Online Publications
2026 Gulf Stream Magazine
2025 The Penn Review
2025 THE WORDS FAIRE
2023 No Tokens
2021 No Tokens
2021 Pollux Journal
2020 The Aurora Review
2020 The Showbear Family Circus
2020 The Tiny Seed Literary Journal
2019 The Stirling Spoon
2019 Toho Journal
2019 Glasgow Gallery of Photography Issue 3: Night
2019 Glasgow Gallery of Photography Issue 2: Monochrome 2
2019 The Glasgow Gallery of Photography International Landscape Exhibition
2019 Inlandia: A Literary Journey
2018 Cerurove
2018 Terse Journal
2018 From Whispers to Roars
2018 deLuge Journal
2018 The Brown Orient
2018 Minute Magazine
2018 Peninsula Pulse
2018 Rigorous Journal
2018 Underexposed Magazine
2018 Public House Magazine
2018 WomenCinemakers
2018 Floorr Magazine
2018 riverSedge
2018 Women in Art 278 Magazine
2018 Nadia Gerassimenko's Blog
2018 Superstition Review
2018 FreezeRay
2018 Abstract Mag TV
2018 Moonchild Magazine
2018 NUNUM
2018 Whispers To Roars
2018 Superstition Review
2018 The Verdancies
2018 Tepid Autumn Blog
2018 Anti-Heroin Chic Journal
2018 Wise Review
2018 C41 Magazine
2017 For Example
2017 PH21 Gallery
2017 Dodho Magazine
2017 Eyescape Magazine
2017 Fields Projects Gallery
2014 Soanyway
2012 Gola Blog
2012 Trebuchet Magazine
2009 Source Magazine
Juries
2018 - Current Judge, Los Angeles CineFest, Los Angeles, USA
Selected Talks
2017 Chair for a discussion about the subject of Objet Trouvé, as part of the 'All that glitters is not gold' exhibition, Camden Arts Centre, London
Teaching
2012 Guest Lecturer, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield
2010 Assistant Teacher, Macro Photography Workshop, Site Gallery, Sheffield
Volunteer Work
Camden Arts Centre, London, July 2017 - September 2017
I volunteered at the Camden Arts Centre, there I invigilated art exhibitions and monitored visitor interaction and also did occasional admin work in the office franking letters and creating labels for mail outs.
Sheffield Star, Sheffield, UK, September 2011 - October 2011
Here I worked with the photography department. I was sent to photograph places, events and people to go alongside written articles. My photographs were published I was given several bylines. I also used the Atex System to log and archive all images that were taken, so that they could be searched for by other photographers and journalists at a later date.
Sheffield DocFest, UK, October 2010 – November, 2010
During my time at Sheffield Doc/Fest I was responsible for checking emails, answering the phone and responding to queries from the general public and delegates that were to attend the festival. I also created a large expansive mailing distribution list for the festival that helped in spreading the brand and content of the festival to the general public. During the actual festival I photographed Q and A’s, workshops and other events that were later used for the flickr site and also publications
RCM Gallery, Nanjing, China. October 2008 – November 2008
My experience here included photographing art works at the Nanjing Triennial for documentary purposes and publication. I also dealt with international artists and worked alongside them on publications like flyers and posters for their exhibition. I researched a lot about Chinese contemporary Art whilst in China and learnt a lot about the context of the artwork, speaking to several lecturers and emerging Chinese contemporary artists whilst I was working for the gallery.
The Cupola Gallery, Sheffield, August 2002 - September 2002
At this gallery I worked on general administration with sales, handling cash, customer service and front of house duties such as answering the phone. I also worked in the back of the gallery labelling works for sale and updating records electronically.