Holly Revell is an artist photographer who makes collaborative portraits with fellow queer folk exploring transforming identities.

They have been working on their current project ‘People Like Us’ since 2017, exploring trans and non-binary identities and experience. They received an Arts Council project grant to develop this work in 2021 and have plans for it to become a photo-book in 2024. A zine featuring a series of portraits and quotes from the project was commissioned by Shout Festival in 2020.

Other notable projects include Holly’s photo-booth installations, 'DARKROOM', which offered a live photographic experience to audiences at art and club events making tableaux in the dark (2010-14), ‘Transformations’, a series of photographs made with performers reflecting the transition from drag to original self in one long-exposure (2016) and their photo-book ‘David Hoyle: Parallel Universe’, which contains collages of backstage documentation, intimate portraits and ephemera shot over 8 years (2017).

Holly’s work is archived at Bishopsgate Institute.

For bookings, commissions and collaborations please email hollyrev@hotmail.co.uk

Follow @hollyrevellphotography 

Testimonials: People often arrive for a shoot feeling nervous but I’m very proud to say they generally leave feeling liberated and fulfilled. I’m always being told how at ease I make people feel which is a great compliment and very important and there’s normally a few laughs along the way too!

“Holly Revell is beyond amazing and her shoot with Alex has influenced our devising process so much” Deirdre McLaughlin

“Holly Revell's magic camera has made me look as hot as hell, so thanks for that!” Kay

“Just look at Mo Terboat. And it's all down to the brilliant @hollyrevellphotography for making Mo so relaxed and capturing his chemistry with life.“ Jen Carrs

“The richness of the quality of the photos last year played a large part in why they were picked up and used by so many.” PR company

EXHIBITIONS, TALKS, EVENTS, INITIATIVES, PUBLICATIONS

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

  • The Salon - Group Exhibition - The Wing London

  • Louche Magazine - Feature - ‘Transformations’

  • Lesley Magazine Launch - Group Exhibition - The Horse Hospital

  • Holly Revell Archive Launch - Bishopsgate Institute

  • Queer Art(its) Now - Group Exhibition - And What? Queer Arts Festival, Archive Gallery, Rose Lipman Building, London

  • VFD10 Punish the Streets - Group Exhibition at New Arts Projects Gallery, Hackney

2018

2017

2016

  • 'Transformations' - solo exhibition at Limewharf and The Glory.

  • 'The Regulars' - public exhibition in Gillet square, Dalston.

  • 'Dalston Street Show' - work shown in Gillet Square and at Dalston Superstore as part of Photomonth.

  • 'WE R' - Gay Pride group exhibition at Espacio Gallery in Bethnal Green.

2015

  • D.A.R.C. (documentary action research collective) pilot - Arts Council funded. "DARC is a collective of artists who work in different media creating documentation and promotional material for artists. We believe that the documentation ofartist's work is not just an act of preservation, but a creative act in itself. We consider our work a process of collaboration, a dialogue, a responsibility and an art form of its own."

  • Forensic Identity – Wellcome Collection – a series of workshops I facilitated with A level students resulting in an exhibition at the Wellcome.

  • Numerous contributions to QX magazine including a front cover.

2014

  • Sin in my Heart – group exhibition – Manchester Kraak gallery and the Bunker, London.

  • Imaging Performance – a series of workshops resulting in a Friday late presentation at the British Museum.

2013 and beyond

  • DARKROOM photo-booth workshops and installations in galleries and venues inc. The Barbican, A-side B-side Gallery, Act Art, The Green Carnation, Hot August Fringe at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, David Hoyle's Slurry, Winter Warmer and Lives, Naked Boys Reading at Vogue Fabrics and Ace Hotel, Wotever World's Christmas Bazaar, Lolo Brow's Cabaret Derangium...

  • Published photographs in a number of issues of 'Flip' magazine; published by London Independent Photography

  • Published photographs in 'The mammoth book of gorgeous guys'; published by Constable and Robinson