Gemma Fleming

Inspired by the ideas and aesthetics akin to that of Cindy Sherman and Francesca Woodman, young artist Gemma Fleming started developing her project of photographing herself eight years ago. Her unique body of work displays an often-dark and furtive style and the immersion in the uncertain and conflictual zone of personal emotions and struggle.

Over the years her repertoire of photographs has grown to an extensive body of personal and commissioned conceptual portraits: among these works her self-portrait pieces received noteworthy attention. Several of her images have been shown in numerous exhibits and publications, including a group exhibit in the Seattle Art Museum and a recent editorial in Push It Magazine. The nature of Gemma’s self-portraits makes it an exceptional body of work, since it exists as an ongoing project with no deadline. The project alone serves not only as development of her technique, but as a chronological timeline of her life.

The fantasies that her individual identity generates and the forces that shape it emerge dramatically through these images. The aspiration to pay homage to other iconic self-portraitists (“The Two Fridas”), and the symbolic power and connection to the dark dimension of existence (“MX”, “Shaver”, “Hostile”) are consistent themes in her pieces. Yet, there are several portraits that shift focus, displaying the spark of her youth and energy as it blossoms at the core of these playful and romantic images (“Tidal”, “Orchard”).

Gemma shoots the majority of her work digitally, but sometimes incorporates film and older processing techniques depending on the nature of the project. Whether she uses hot lights, strobes, or natural light, the goal is to achieve lighting that gives the images an intimate and tangibly organic quality. The moments within the images come to life, as they existed naturally, through the narrative aesthetics of not just the setting, but also the appropriate lighting scheme.

With the exception of a few specific pieces, the majority of her shoots are done on location. The purpose is to bring the viewer into a setting that they can imagine existing in their own world. Shots are sometimes planned out for production weeks ahead, while others are done on the spot and more spontaneously. Each portrait documents and encapsulates emotive moments, expelling them from Gemma’s point of view and in turn sharing it with her viewers.

Gemma Fleming was born in Naples, Italy. After spending the early years between her birthplace and her mother’s home in the Philippines, Gemma finally settled in Seattle, Washington, where she remained for the majority of her life. Shortly after graduating college in 2008 with a degree in Commercial Photography, she later relocated to New York. Gemma also has a background in illustrating, writing, and music, elements that are often sources of inspiration and content for many of her works. She currently lives in Brooklyn.

Video Production by ADV Associates
Interview by Virginia Villari