Nat Faulkner Emerges as Photography’s Rising Star

London-based artist Nat Faulkner, born in 1995 in Chippenham, UK, is captivating the contemporary art world with his innovative fusion of analogue photography and sculpture. Represented by Brunette Coleman gallery, Faulkner has rapidly risen to prominence since winning the prestigious Camden Art Centre Emerging Artist Award at Frieze London in 2024. This accolade led to his first major UK institutional solo exhibition, “Strong Water,” which opened in January 2026 at Camden Art Centre and runs through March 22, 2026.

Faulkner’s practice pushes the boundaries of photography beyond traditional image capture, treating the medium as a site of material transformation and alchemical experimentation. He develops works by hand in his studio-darkroom, incorporating chemicals, imprints, and environmental elements to create layered, enigmatic pieces that explore invisible processes, shifting states, and the “afterlife” of images. His fascination with metamorphosis traces back to childhood experiments hatching moths from mail-ordered caterpillars, a theme that echoes in his current explorations of materiality and trace.

In “Strong Water,” Faulkner presents subtle, multilayered works where his studio itself becomes a spectral collaborator. Highlights include metallic frottage reliefs of studio wall fragments electroplated with discarded silver, alongside chemical imprints and silver gelatin prints mounted on plywood. Notable pieces from the show, such as “Aperture (Iodine)”—a work using iodine in acrylic frames—and “Aqua Fortis,” a silver gelatin print on plywood panels, demonstrate his technical mastery and innovative use of photographic chemistry to redefine the medium.

Critics have praised the exhibition for its ambitious scope and mind-expanding musing on transformation. Frieze described it as Faulkner “pushing photography past its limits,” while AnOther highlighted its revelatory alchemy. Earlier works, like those in his 2024 “Albedo” show at Brunette Coleman, similarly materialized invisible events through reflections and altered states.

As 2026 unfolds, Faulkner’s trajectory positions him as one to watch in the evolving landscape of contemporary photography. With upcoming exhibitions including “Lost Object” at Matthew Brown gallery, his meticulous yet fluid approach continues to draw attention from collectors, curators, and institutions alike.

For inaccuracies contact Darren Smith.