Laura Hospes (1994) has been capturing her own self with the camera since the tender age of 16, out of a need to connect with people. This need has not waned over the years; it has only become more necessary. Hospes’ self-portraits are her way of making clear what is inside of her. Her camera consoles and understands her better than anyone else. Photography is her medium to accept and process the many struggles in her life. The resulting images are intense and arresting, as well as being a captivating glimpse inside the world of a young woman dealing with depression and anxiety. As her work mirrors her wellbeing, she is currently working on a project about caring and healing.

While still studying at the Photoacademy she started her career with a boost by winning the Emerging Talent Award from LensCulture. The media picked up her story and within a flash, her photos were on the front page of The Huffington Post, The Daily Mail, Yahoo and many more. Ever since she works hard to maintain that high set standard, but in a leisurely pace trying to balance it besides her therapies and hospitalisations.

After graduating ‘With Honour’ she won several awards and grants, such as the Jacob Riis Documentary Award, Young Masters Art Prize, Zilveren Camera, SO2015 and Prix de la Photographie. Her work is shown both at home and abroad at fairs and exhibitions, such as San Fransisco (SF CameraWork), Venice, New York, Amsterdam (Stedelijk Museum), London, Arles (Voies Off), Paris (Le Louvre) and Berlin.

As a closure of a difficult period of time, she created the book UCP, named after the psychiatric ward she had to stay. The book is published by Lecturis Publishers and is for sale at the bookstores and online. UCP is chosen as one of the best photo books of 2016 by De Volkskrant, is shortlisted as one of The Best Dutch Book Designs 2016 and is shown on several (international) book fairs and exhibitions.