Creative Shortlist

Other Joys is an ongoing project that explores both the intensity of the photographer’s special interests and the difficulties she faces as an autistic woman. The process of making these photographs provided Poyzer with a safe space to feel at ease and to unmask, enabling her to experience her autistic joy to the fullest – something that isn’t always possible in daily life. Throughout the work, there are visual comments on Poyzer’s autistic traits, such as the need for rigid routine and how easy it is for her to be overwhelmed. The self-portraits are all different in their tonality, expression and mood, mirroring how the photographer feels in real life; constantly changing to fit in with others. The work not only highlights the concept of special interests within autism but also aims at furthering the conversation on how autistic representation can be improved – especially in relation to autistic women.

Alice Poyzer is a British photographer based in Lincolnshire, England. Whilst she is interested in all photographic forms, Poyzer’s work looks predominantly on portraiture and constructed imagery, as a means to communicate the world through an autistic lens. The drive to be seen and heard as a neurodivergent woman acts as the main catalyst behind her photographic work, with images recently shown in the Financial Times, The Guardian and at Paris Photo, under the Carte Blanche award.