Alison Jackson, a contemporary, BAFTA and multi award-winning artist, photographer and filmmaker explores the cult of celebrity – an extraordinary phenomenon manufactured by the media, publicity industries and the public figures themselves. Jackson raises questions about how we can’t tell what is real or not any more. a contemporary, BAFTA and multi award-winning artist, photographer and filmmaker explores the cult of celebrity – an extraordinary phenomenon manufactured by the media, publicity industries and the public figures themselves. Jackson raises questions about how we can’t tell what is real or not anymore, and how we don’t care. She creates convincingly realistic photographs, films and sculpture depicting celebrities doing things in private, images that we have all imagined but never seen before, using cleverly styled lookalikes. One foot in truth and the other one foot in fantasy. Jackson raises questions about how we think we know celebrities intimately but very few of us have met them for real. Her work is an exploration of our insatiable desire to get personal with public personalities, raising questions questioning about the power and seductive nature of imagery inciting voyeurism and our need to believe – you can’t rely on your perception when it comes to photography. Jackson challenges our preconceptions through imagery. Jackson takes portraits of (real!) famous actors, politicians and celebrities, collected by Museum collections, such as at the National Portrait Gallery, The Parliamentary Art Collection in London and SF MOMA, San Francisco amongst many others.
In 2019 Jackson founded and launched the photography initiative Young Local Artists, A Day in Your Life Photography for young aspiring photographers from under-represented, minority backgrounds and people living with disabilities, which offers photography workshops, programs, competition and exhibition of the works to cultivate, nurture and celebrate the future creatives of tomorrow. Anyone who hasn’t had a chance to showcase their talent yet – A Day in Your Life provides creative lifelines but also life-changing opportunity for all ages: from 5 upwards. Jackson mentors young people and is a Member of the Alumni Council for The Royal College of Art; Ambassador to the K&C Foundation; Ambassador to the Spinal Injuries Association. Jackson supports a number of charities, including MacMillan Cancer Support, Marie-Curie, Jeans for Genes Day and Cancer Research UK amongst others. She has published numerous books including Private Confidential, by Penguin, Confidential by Taschen, Up the Aisle, Stern Private. Her work has been acquired by many public museum collections including The Parliamentary Art Collection, London; The National Portrait Gallery, London; SF MOMA, San Francisco; Musée de la Photographie, Charleroi, Brussels; The Frances Foundation, Paris and The International Centre of Photography amongst others.
Why Kensington and Chelsea?
“When I was 17, I made an active choice to move from the countryside to live and work in Chelsea. Since then, I have been one hundred per cent educated in Kensington and Chelsea, and developed my career from night classes at council-funded Hortensia Road; a Diploma at Kensington and Chelsea College, Wornington Centre; Heatherleys College of Fine Art; BA at Chelsea College of Art and, finally, to an MA at the Royal College of Art. All of these institutions are outstanding in their field of education and were invaluable in helping me develop my career. The RCA gave me a platform that led to my first BBC TV series and first advertising campaign with CocaCola Schweppes. I would love for other people to have these fantastic opportunities and know about the outstanding and wonderful education available in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea that can lead to so much more. This is the reason why I am starting this photography competition with education and vocational prizes for residents of the area. This Royal Borough has looked after me and I would like to look after the developing talent within it.”
Exhibitions
Jackson has been widely exhibited in museums, galleries and in public collections around the world, including: Tate Modern, The Tate Britain, The Hayward Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery, International Center of Photography, New York; San Francisco MoMA; Pompidou Centre; Le Louvre, Paris; Liverpool Biennial; Musée de L'elysée, Lausanne; Kunsthalle Vienna; Musee de la Photo Montreal; Musée de la Photographie à Charleroi; Schirn Museum, Frankfurt; Camera Museum, Turin, Westlicht; Vienna, Fotografiska; Tallinn, The Photographer’s Gallery; Stockholm, Camerawork; Berlin, and Fotografiska; LA.
