Dr Carla Hamer

Senior Lecturer in Photography

Email:: Carla.hamer@bcu.ac.uk

Carla is an artist, researcher and Senior Lecturer based in the Art Activisms research cluster. She is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and leads the CLiC team (Communities for Learning in the context of Art, Design and Media). Her interdisciplinary research connects photography, performance, and ethnographically engaged practice, focusing on the intersections of performative photography, performativity, and affect. Carla gained a鈥疐irst-Class Honours degree in Fine Art before completing an MA in Contemporary Art, and a PhD at Middlesex University.

Her doctoral thesis, Photographic Encounters: A Performative Framework for Practice-Led Ethnographically Informed Research (2021) investigated the ethical challenges and possibilities of performative photographic approaches for mediating and accounting for practice-led research informed by ethnographic models. Her publication,鈥疪eimagining Past Histories and Experiences Through Performative Photography and Auto-Ethnography鈥�(2024), reflects these ongoing interests.

Carla has also devoted special attention to how performative pedagogies can foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity within the artistic disciplines in higher education and is an active member of the IFTR鈥檚 (International Federation for Theatre Research) Interdisciplinary Performative Pedagogies working group. Her current project merges performative photography, documentary theatre, and ethnography.

Areas of Expertise

Qualifications

Memberships

Teaching

Research

Publications

Exhibition/ public projects听

Hamer, C. (2022) Verdant [exhibition] The Art Pavilion, Middlesex University Arts & Creative Industries, 8 鈥� 14 July.听听

Hamer, C. (2020) Fond memories of Karen, Video presented at the Arts and Creative Industries, Winter Research Conference [online], Middlesex University (December 2020).鈥�听

Hamer, C. (2012) An encounter with a Stranger (Video Installation), MMU Cheshire Centenary Events exhibition: Axis鈥疓allery鈥�(September 2012).鈥�听

Conference Contributions:听

Hamer, C., Botham P. (2025) From Eurocentric Theory to Decolonial Practice: Reflections on a Personal Research Turn. In Milestones and Markers-Performance, Identity and Community-听 . 27- 29 August, Warwick: University of Warwick.听

Hamer, C., Botham P. (2025) From Polarisation to Collaborative Encounters: Interdisciplinary Explorations in Argentina. In: Performing Carnival: Ekstasis | Subversion | Metamorphosis鈥� - (IFTR). Cologne: University of Cologne (UoC).听

Hamer, C. Lebre, R.A., Lennon, A., Reynolds, L., (2025) Acting Design: Exploring art and performance inspired pedagogies in design teaching. In . 20- 23 June. Porto, University of Porto (Forthcoming).听

Hamer, C., Lennon, A., (2024) The 鈥楽imulated Studio鈥�: Supporting Transition to University through Performative Pedagogies and Collaboration. In , - IFTR- (International Federation of Theatre Research), 16-19. Belgrade: University of Arts.听

Hamer, C. (2023) 鈥�Reimagining post-migration relationships through photography and auto-ethnography鈥�: VIII . Espoo, Finland, 30 November- 1 December.听 Espoo: Aalto University.听听

Hamer, C. (2022) 鈥淲orking with human participants鈥�. In Approaching Research in the Arts and Communication Fields: Methods and Methodologies in Action Talk Series Conference, Middlesex University (February 2022).鈥赌�听

Hamer, C. (2017) 鈥淧layful Grammar鈥�, Conference workshop at the Playful Learning Conference, Manchester Metropolitan University (12th -14th July 2017).听

Hamer, C. (2017) 鈥淯n-still photographs that tell stories鈥�, Paper presentation at the Annual Learning and Teaching Conference, Middlesex University, London (June 2017).听

Hamer, C. (2016) 鈥淭he photographer as performer鈥�. Paper presentation and Installation at: Practice and Curation as Creative Process 鈥� An International Symposium (26 -27 February 2016), Manchester Metropolitan University.听

Hamer, C. (2016) 鈥淲ork: Play鈥�, Conference at Middlesex University (7 April 2016).听

Hamer, C. (2016) 鈥淲ork in Progress鈥�. Pecha Kucha Conference, Middlesex University (February 2016).听

Hamer, C. (2015) 鈥淧hotographing Memories鈥�, Paper presentation at Contested Spaces, Shared Places Conference, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire Campus (July 2015).听

Hamer, C. (2015) 鈥淎 collaborative methodology between photography and performance in ethnographically informed research鈥�, Paper presented at the Photography and Communities Symposium, Middlesex University.鈥�听

Hamer, C. (2014) 鈥淭he embodied camera: A relation between identity, space and representation in transnational migrant communities鈥�, Poster presentation at the Ottoman Pasts, Present Cities: Cosmopolitanism and Transcultural Memories Masterclass (AHRC Research Network), University of London (28th November 2014).听听

Hamer, C. (2012) 鈥淒ocuments of knowledge and the artist book鈥�, Paper presented at Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire Campus (November 2012).听

Publications:听

Hamer, C., Botham, P., (2026) From Polarisation to Collaborative Encounters: Interdisciplinary Explorations in Argentina. In Theatre Research International (forthcoming).听

Hamer, C. (2024) Reimagining Past Histories and Experiences through Performative Photography and Auto-ethnography. In: VIII Art of Research Conference, 30 November- 1 December:听 Research in Art and Education Journal. DOI: 10.54916/rae.142573.听

Langton, J., Teixeria, H., Hughes, L., Stint, C., Collier, O., Rogers, W., Hamer, C., Page, C., Healey, J., Silvester, J., Ermis, S., Culff, B., Todorova, T., Bevis, J., & Chan, J. (2022). eXtended 91猎奇 - Digital Twins for Gamified Teaching and Learning. Software.听

Hamer, C. (2016) A collaborative methodology between photography and performance in ethnographically informed research, Critical Arts, 30(3) Taylor & Francis. Available at: .听