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 was free-lancing in the areas of music, fashion and editorial and during a time of permanent employment 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.
She also worked for five years for the artist Stephen Gill helping him with production and distribution of his art books through the independent publishing company Nobody Books.
In 2009 she gained a Master of the Arts in Photography and since has focussed her use of the medium solely on it as means for artistic expression.
Simone Koch wurde in Hannover geboren, und lebte und arbeitete 22 Jahre lang in London, UK. Im Zuge des Brexit und der Pandemie ist sie 2020 nach Deutschland zurückgekehrt und lebt zurzeit in Potsdam.
In den Anfängen ihrer fotografischen Arbeit war sie freischaffend in den Bereichen der Mode -, Musik- und Editorialfotografie tätig und hat während einer Zeit der Festanstellung im Verlagshaus Conde Nast an Aufträgen für Magazine wie Vogue, Tatler, Glamour, GQ, House & Gardens and Conde Nast Traveller gearbeitet.
Sie war außerdem 5 Jahre für den Künstler Stephen Gill tätig, während der sie ihm bei der Produktion seiner Bücher und deren Vertrieb im Verlag Nobody Books zur Seite stand.
Seit dem Abschluss eines Master Studiums der Kunst mit Schwerpunkt Fotografie im Jahr 2009 ist sie als freischaffende Künstlerin tätig.
Artist Statement
Simone Koch's artistic practice centres largely around 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, the internal and the external worlds and between nature and culture.
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
2000-2001
Higher National Diploma, Photography, City of Westminster College, London
1998-2000
BTEC National Diploma, Photography, City of Westminster College, London
Selected exhibitions
2019
The Sanford Archive, public art installation of 100 photographs, Sanford Walk, London, UK
2012
The World in London, public art project commissioned by The Photographer’s Gallery, London, UK
2011
Surface Gallery Open, Nottingham, UK
2010
Slide Nite, Photomonth Krakow, Krakow, Poland
2010
freshfacedandwildeyed, Photographer's Gallery, London, UK
2009
MA Final Show, The Gallery, London College of Communication, London, UK(exh. cat.)
2009
Bloomberg New Contemporaries, Cornerhouse, Manchester and Rochelle School, London, UK (exh. cat.)
2009
MA Interim Show, Well Gallery, London College of Communication, London
2009
Open Salon, Viewfinder Gallery, London, UK
2008
Photographic Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery, London, UK (exh. cat.)
2008
London’s Calling, Foundry, London, UK
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