Alison Jackson, a contemporary, BAFTA and multi award-winning artist, photographer and filmmaker explores the cult of celebrity – an extraordinary phenomenon manufactured by the media, publicity industries and the public figures themselves. Jackson raises questions about how we can’t tell what is real or not any more, and how we don’t care. She creates convincingly realistic photographs, films, and sculptures depicting celebrities doing things in private – images that we have all imagined but never seen before – using cleverly styled lookalikes. One foot in truth and the other in fantasy, Jackson raises questions about how we think we know celebrities intimately, but very few of us have met them for real.  

'Her work is an exploration of our insatiable desire to get personal with public personalities, raising questions about the power and seductive nature of imagery, inciting voyeurism, and our need to believe. You can’t rely on your perception when it comes to photography. Jackson challenges our preconceptions through imagery.'

Jackson also takes portraits of (real!) famous actors, politicians, and celebrities, collected by museum collections, such as the National Portrait Gallery, The Parliamentary Art Collection in London, and SF MOMA in San Francisco, among many others.

Young Local Artists

In 2019, Jackson founded and launched the photography initiative Young Local Artists: A Day in Your Life, designed for young, aspiring photographers from underrepresented minority backgrounds and individuals living with disabilities. The initiative offers photography workshops, programs, competitions, and exhibitions of participants' works, aiming to cultivate, nurture, and celebrate the future creatives of tomorrow.

A Day in Your Life provides creative lifelines and life-changing opportunities for people of all ages, starting from age 5. It is especially dedicated to those who have not yet had a chance to showcase their talent.

Jackson mentors young people and serves as a Member of the Alumni Council for The Royal College of Art. She is also an Ambassador for the K&C Foundation and the Spinal Injuries Association. In addition, Jackson supports several charities, including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Jeans for Genes Day, and Cancer Research UK, among others.

She has published numerous books, including Private Confidential (Penguin), Confidential(Taschen), Up the Aisle (Stern), and Private (Stern). Her work has been acquired by many public museum collections, including:

• The Parliamentary Art Collection, London
• The National Portrait Gallery, London
• SF MOMA, San Francisco
• Musée de la Photographie, Charleroi, Brussels
• The Frances Foundation, Paris
• The International Center of Photography, New York

...and many others.

Why Kensington and Chelsea?

“When I was 17, I made an active choice to move from the countryside to live and work in Chelsea. Since then, I have been one hundred per cent educated in Kensington and Chelsea, and developed my career from night classes at council-funded Hortensia Road; a Diploma at Kensington and Chelsea College, Wornington Centre; Heatherleys College of Fine Art; BA at Chelsea College of Art and, finally, to an MA at the Royal College of Art. All of these institutions are outstanding in their field of education and were invaluable in helping me develop my career. The RCA gave me a platform that led to my first BBC TV series and first advertising campaign with CocaCola Schweppes. I would love for other people to have these fantastic opportunities and know about the outstanding and wonderful education available in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea that can lead to so much more. This is the reason why I am starting this photography competition with education and vocational prizes for residents of the area. This Royal Borough has looked after me and I would like to look after the developing talent within it.”

Founder - Alison Jackson

Exhibitions

Jackson has been widely exhibited in museums, galleries, and public collections around the world, including: Tate Modern, Tate Britain, The Hayward Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery, International Center of Photography, New York; San Francisco MoMA; Pompidou Centre; Le Louvre, Paris; Liverpool Biennial; Musée de l'Elysée, Lausanne; Kunsthalle Vienna; Musée de la Photographie, Montreal; Musée de la Photographie à Charleroi; Schirn Museum, Frankfurt; Camera Museum, Turin; WestLicht, Vienna; Fotografiska, Tallinn; The Photographer’s Gallery, Stockholm; Camerawork, Berlin; and Fotografiska, LA.