Clare Marie Bailey is a photographer and filmmaker known for her surreal, dreamlike self-portraits and analogue films that construct alternative worlds beyond everyday reality. Born and raised on the Isle of Anglesey, her work is deeply influenced by cinema, magical iconography, and a fascination with the themes of reinvention and doppelgängers. Working primarily with film and using herself as the subject, her images are not straightforward self-portraits but rather visual manifestations of inner worlds and psychic landscapes.
In her talk, Clare will discuss the evolution of her practice—from her early days documenting the outsider characters of her hometown, which helped shape her approach, her influences and the mixed blessings of being self-taught.
Clare’s work has been exhibited internationally and is featured in the book Polaroid Now: The History and Future of Polaroid Photography. Her photographs are also part of the permanent collection at the Polaroid Museum in California. In addition to her visual art, she has collaborated with musicians including Gwenno and Melin Melyn, expanding her practice into music video and performance-inspired work.
