Biography
Simone Koch was born in Hannover, Germany and lived and worked in London, UK for 22 years. In light of Brexit and the pandemic she returned to Germany in 2020 and currently lives in Potsdam, near Berlin.
In her early years of engagement with photography she worked in the areas of music, fashion and editorial photography. During her time as in-house photographer at Conde Nast Publishing she produced work for magazines such as Vogue, Tatler, Glamour, GQ, House & Gardens and Conde Nast Traveller magazines.
Instructive in turning her away from the commercial use of photography towards the medium as a means for artistic expression were five years of working for the artist Stephen Gill and his independent publishing company Nobody Books.
In 2009 she gained a Master of the Arts in Photography from the University of the Arts, London College of Communication.
Simone Koch wurde in Hannover geboren, und lebte und arbeitete 22 Jahre in London, UK. Im Zuge des Brexit und der Pandemie kehrte sie 2020 nach Deutschland zurück und lebt in Potsdam.
In den Anfangsjahren ihrer fotografischen Arbeit waren sie den Bereichen der Mode -, Musik- und Editorial-Fotografie tätig. Während einer Anstellung im Verlagshaus Conde Nast arbeitete sie unter anderen an Aufträgen für die Magazine Vogue, Tatler, Glamour, GQ, House & Gardens and Conde Nast Traveller.
Formend für ihren Übergang von kommerzieller zur künstlerischer Fotografie waren fünf Jahre in denen sie für den Künstler Stephen Gill und den Verlag Nobody Books tätig war.
Im Jahr 2009 absolvierte sie mit einem Masterstudium of the Arts, Schwerpunkt Fotografie von der University of the Arts, London College of Communication, England.
Artist Statement
Simone Koch's artistic practice explores the notion of connection and the unfolding of inherent potential and evolution in all relationships, paying special attention to those between the individual and the communal and the internal and the external world.
Central to these interests is the tension between the idea of home understood as a geographical location, home as a community of people and feeling home in one's body and psychology of self.
CV
Education
2007- 2009
MA Photography (Distinction), London College of Communication, University of the Arts, London
Selected exhibitions
2012
The World in London, public art project commissioned by The Photographer’s Gallery, London, UK
2010
freshfacedandwildeyed, Photographer's Gallery, London, UK
2009
Bloomberg New Contemporaries, Cornerhouse, Manchester and Rochelle School, London, UK (exh. cat.)
2008
Photographic Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery, London, UK (exh. cat.)
Awards/Scholarships
2021
Microstipend III, Federal State of Brandenburg
2008
Short-listed for the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize (exh.cat)
2004
Short-listed for Association of Photographers Assistant Award (exh.cat.)
Public Talks & Lectures
2009
Artist Talk, Rochelle School, London, UK
Collections
Held in private collections