Aaron Schuman

Aaron Schuman’s work explores expanding notions of Documentary practice within photographic history, contemporary art photography and popular/vernacular photographic culture. He explores the complex relationships between notions of truth, place, memory, sensation, documentation and storytelling, as well as the links between long standing histories/traditions within visual culture and contemporary photographic strategies and practices.

Schuman is the author of several critically-acclaimed photographic monographs, including SONATA (MACK, 2022), SLANT (MACK, 2019) and FOLK (NB Books, 2016). Schuman’s photobooks have been included in numerous photobooks of the year lists by publications and institutions including The Guardian, TIME and PhMuseum. SONATA and FOLK were both long-listed for the Deutsche Börse Photography Prize respectively.

His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally at institutions such as Tate Modern; Hauser & Wirth Somerset; Christie’s (London / New York); the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London; the Centre for British Photography; the Ethnographic Museum Krakow; Format Festival and Micamera, Milan. Schuman has also curated exhibitions internationally for institutions including FotoMuseum Antwerp; Museum of Contemporary Art, Krakow; Houston Center of Photography; FotoFest International and Jaipur Photo 2018 amongst others. He has also authored books and essays for leading publishers including Aperture, Barbican Art Gallery, The Science Museum, The Carnegie Art Museum, University of California Press, Prestel, and MACK.

Schuman is Associate Professor of Photography & Visual Culture and Programme Leader of MA Photography at the University of the West of England, Bristol.